Warning: bitter review to follow.
I have nothing nice to say about this Starbucks in Oakland. Notice: I DO NOT hate Starbucks stores in general. In fact, I actually think their coffee is great- better than a lot of local coffees, in fact. However, this Starbucks in particular can bite the dust for all I care. From speaking with a couple small business owners from around the neighborhood, this place single handedly took out my FAVORITE coffee shop in the city right across the street, Kiva Han (now replaced by a bagel place). Furthermore, this particular store in my subjective opinion has zero character, built very open without a bunch of sitting room and littered with impersonal staff. I understand that they have to crank orders out due to the high-turnover of customers during peak hours, but I have no desire to visit there again for the reasons listed above. If one of those coffee shops had to go out of business, I would have rather it be "The Man."