The 11th and Alder Starbucks in downtown Portland has recently become an “Evenings” Starbucks. For those who don’t recall, any store that is an “Evenings” Starbucks offers beer and wine, and has some small plate food options not found in a typical Starbucks. The official Starbucks information on the Evenings stores, including an online menu, is here. Most Evenings stores (though not all) are also Clover-Reserve locations. This Starbucks has both – a Clover coffee brewer, offering Reserve coffee, and all of the Evenings offerings. (This store officially became an Evenings location in December 2013).
It’s a small store but totally adorable. It’s in the lobby of the Governor Hotel in Portland. (This is not a licensed Starbucks. I know that some hotels have licensed stores in them, but this is a company-operated location.)
This store is at 614 SW Alder Street, in Portland. I met Susan, the store manager, who told me that her favorite core coffee is Verona. She’s been a store manager for about two years. She has a great store! I ordered the truffle mac and cheese and the core Ethiopia from the Clover (I tried ordering the Yirgacheffe but was told ‘no’ not available yet – I was one day too early!).
This store has comfy bench seating near a fireplace, and table seating also. The chalkboard artwork of a French press is stunning:
I noticed that this store has rustic mirrors above the menu boards, giving it a spacious feel. It’s a similar store design to what was used in the University Village 3 Starbucks store. If you’re in Portland, I hope you get the chance to drop by the store. There aren’t that many Evenings Starbucks, and Portland only has two in the downtown core – the other downtown Evening Starbucks is the Brewery Blocks location.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the photos!
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Melody the pics make the store look bigger. I cannot remember but where are most of the evening SB stores? The chalkboard art is very nice too.
Melody went to the link about locations for the evenings stores. Overall, how has the response been to these stores?
@Purple1 – Generally speaking, this stores just have to be placed in the right demographics, and right setting. There was one store in Seattle that lost its Evenings store status because of poor sales. Just depends on the customer base.
I can’t wait until my trip to the PNW. Now that I know of this Portland one (I know there are others, but this one is pretty) I’m definitely going to go and visit!
Part of me really wishes that the Evenings stores would branch out to the middle of the country too. Yea for Chicago, DC, PNW, NYC, LA, and Atlanta, but what about Texas? We have four HUGE metros out here (Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio) and we have nothing! I would love if Dallas got an Evenings store. We have two Reserve/Clover stores in the nearby area but I wanna get fancy!
@Claire – I think there are a ton of cities that could have Evenings stores! I can totally imagine one in Austin – with live local music now and then too. 🙂
@Melody – You’ve been on a roll lately…….
@Chgo. – Yes, you’re right. I’ll give it a few days before the next update. It just feels like there has been a lot to write about lately.
What’s the difference between a licensed Starbucks an one that isn’t? Can you use our gold card here still? At first I was thinking this was a weird choice for it to be an Evenings store then changed my mind because it’s in a hotel. But I am back to doubting it again. I think there’s going to be another Evenings store, this time in Beaverton.
@earl – The difference between a Corporate and Licensed store is who runs it. A Corporate store is owned and operated by Starbucks, and Partners working in the store are employed by Starbucks. A licensed store is a Starbucks you would see for example but not limited to: Inside a Target, Barnes & Noble, Airports, or in a large grocery chain store like Safeway or Kroger. These stores are not the real deal. The employees work for Target, Barnes & Noble, or whatever store they are located in. Some differences are…… The pastries. Food Items or the lack of them. Some Licensed stores sell things that a Corporate store don’t sell, and some Corporate stores sell things a Licensed one will never sell.
I’m almost certain you can use your Gold Card at EVERY store whether it is Corporate or Licensed! The difference is whether or not it counts toward receiving a Star on your account for a purchase. I think this is one of the things Starbucks may be working on to change, and they may very well might have, but I don’t go to Licensed stores so I don’t know. I do know that before Safeway exited the Chicago area in December, their Licensed stores did give you a star for a purchase, but only if you swiped their store card first and then your Starbucks card.
Then their are promotions. The promo’s Starbucks offers it’s card holders, are limited to Corporate stores only. I personally know of no Licensed store that will honor them, but if I’m wrong, I’m sure somebody will correct me. However….. I have found that Licensed stores in the past can and will do their own special things for customers if the company they work for wants to. I work a couple Airports, and Airport locations are usually run by a company – HMS Host. Don’t expect much from them. They will take money off your card and that’s that. No stars – no promo’s, and everything is more expensive.
Please fill in the holes or correct me where I’m wrong….. Anybody?
pardon the typos….
Does anyone else like to play count the QASA violations with these store pictures? 🙂
Actually, this store looks pretty good.
@OrganicFairTradeDave – Oh my! “Count the QASA violations” ROFL!
@Chgo (and others) – Oh my gosh I have like 10 blog posts written in my head. I am on a roll. I apologize. I will flood you with all the StarbucksMelody.com love you can imagine over the next few weeks.