Comparing The New Starbucks On Tate And the Older Starbucks On Glade/SH-121, Grapevine, TX -- May 3, 2016

The stores are almost identical in footprint: long, rectangular, with main door on south side; "front" door on west side, and a patio out front, with wi-fi available 24/7.

But, and this is huge: the new store is about 20 feet longer, maybe slightly wider.

It feels much, much, much more open.

The sales counter sits much lower; the pastry shelves are definitely lower. Much easier to see/interact with the staff.

By far, there are fewer tables than the allotted space could provide.

End result: It not only feels much, much, much more open. It is much more open. A breath of fresh air.

The four easy chairs have been moved to the front center. There is no long table at the front which existed at the older Starbucks. As I look over where the long table would have been, I notice the area is also a whole lot lighter in the new Starbucks. The windows on the south side take up almost the entire south wall, and extend from floor almost up to the ceiling. The morning sun shines in wonderfully, and the setting sun, I bet, won't be in our eyes.

Where the easy chairs were in the older Starbucks: now we have a longer area with a faux-leather couch that extends the length, from the counter to the west wall with three small round tables.

The easy chairs are more "modern" -- a leaner look. 

The floor is "unfinished" cement. I asked about that last night. They said that older Starbucks have a tile floor which is "impossible" to clean. All those dark spots on Starbucks tile floor? They are not decoration; it's dirt that can't be scrubbed off.

Overall: the new Starbucks -- much, much more room; more room; much lighter. I really like it.

This Starbucks closes at the typical time for Starbucks: 9:00 p.m. The one on Northwest Highway (Grapevine) apparently closes at 10:00 p.m. and the one Glade/SH-121 closes at 11:00 p.m. I'm not sure about those times -- the barista who has worked at all of them told me that last night. She also told me to leave at precisely 9:00 p.m. She was anxious to get home. LOL.

But she told me I could sit on the patio all night and remain connected to Starbucks wi-fi.

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Getting in the Swing, a Matt Pop Mix

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Halibut Recipe (Abbreviated) 

6 T olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1 t basil
1 t salt
1 t black pepper
2 T lemon juice

46-ounce fillet
Marinade up to 2 hours

1. Stove top
2. 1 T olive oil (or Pam, I suppose)
3. High heat, until you see smoke
4. Halibut in pan; coat with marinade
5. High heat for 3 minutes; flip; repeat (marinade, high heat) for 3 minutes other side
6. Reduce heat to medium; repeat marinade both sides
7. At medium, 2 - 4 minutes each side -- until centers are opaque