Michelangelo S.
Yelp
Coffee Mainly For Returning Traveller
SITREP
I returned the rental car and walked mom to the TSA (since that's as far as I could go without a boarding pass myself), but I had some time to kill while waiting for my ride back downtown.
Soooo....let's find coffee for 6am on a Sunday!
THE SETUP
I normally give a star-deduction alone for the price gauging that usually goes on by airport & arena vendors. [Yes, I'm looking particularly hard at you St. Louis Lambert Airport and Oakland Oracle Arena.]
But honestly, $3.14 for a large 20 ounce coffee(?), that is in the general ballpark of most coffee places (whether chains OR Indies) I go. Hard to gripe about that!
SACRIFICE
In addition, props to this specific vendor for actually being in the unfortunate position of "turning away" business.
While here, I heard this thoughtful exchange take place between a potential customer & the lovely lass (who helped me) in some form or another no less than 8-9 times (while I luckily was just chillaxin...)
Coffee Gal: "Are you getting ready to take the tram to go thru TSA?"
Patron: "Why yes I am."
Coffee Gal: "The TSA will make you discard all unfinished beverages before you go through."
In a few instances, the patron(s) got a coffee anyways, but thanked the gal. Everyone else definitely thanked the gal for that heads-up because who the hell wants to waste money on the TSA anyways?
BUSINESS PLAN
This Peet's probably gets enough business from returning passengers or family/friends waiting for them. But it must suck to have to shortchange yourself.
"Caveat Emptor" - Let the buyer beware. If you're stupid enough to buy a beverage a minute before you get in line at the TSA, I call that a "life lesson" for an idiot.
But Peets apparently is kinder than me, so props to them!
THE LOWDOWN
I certainly hope the Starbucks on the other side of the TSA checkpoint in Terminal B's gate area gives Peet's a bouquet of flowers for the business it regularly sends their way!