Snelling and Marshall Starbucks in St. Paul Temporarily Closes Drive-Thru | Eater Twin Cities

"I observed that the popular Starbucks at Snelling and Marshall Avenues in St. Paul has temporarily closed its perpetually busy and controversial drive‑thru after workers — who say they primarily identify as queer, female, and racially diverse — objected to a city‑mandated off‑duty St. Paul police presence and gave an ultimatum to their district manager and regional vice president. The drive‑thru, long one of the state's busiest and increasingly emphasized during the pandemic, had been managed by six to seven off‑duty officers who funneled traffic through a single entrance/exit off Marshall near Snelling, creating backups that spilled into the bike lane, the Snelling crosswalk, and surrounding streets. Those officers were disinvited on April 26 despite a contract through August 2021 and had been absent since April 11 after the department ceased off‑duty involvement amid escalating tensions prior to Derek Chauvin’s conviction. Starbucks representative Reggie Borges called the move a “pause,” said the company asked the St. Paul police not to be there, expressed appreciation for the department, and said customers are being directed to order in‑store or via the app while the company looks for a long‑term solution. The drive‑thru backups have created notable traffic and safety problems in the area — in 2019 former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch was hit by an SUV outside this Starbucks and required wrist surgery." - Joy Summers