The former Starbucks on the southwest corner of the damp intersection of Fountainview Dr. and Westheimer Rd. now appears to be flying the minute flag of advancing Houston chain Minuti Coffee. The green Starbucks siren formerly residing on the west side of the building has been shooed off and replaced by Minuti’s comparatively austere crest, though the Seattle company’s website still lists the store at 5903 Westheimer as operational.
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Singing in the shopping center will continue in the opposite corner of the parking lot, where Spotlight Karaoke sits between Any Lab Test Now! and Crystal’s Nails. Minuti now sports some dozen outposts around the Houston area, reaching as far north as College Station and as far south as Highway 6 in Sugar Land.
Photo: Robert Vercher
They also took over the old Starbucks location on Westheimer @ Fondren. I tried them, nothing special, just like Starbucks and slightly more expensive, although workers seem to try a little harder, at least for now.
Starbucks has a new and bigger one coming in the NE corner of Richmond and Chimney Rock. Entirely new construction on large corner lot. Posted construction address is 5540 Richmond Ave Houston TX 77056. There once was a Taco Cabana there.
it’s a toss up between starbucks and minuti as to which is worse. the staff does work harder.
If i recall correctly (IIRC) this was the first starbucks in houston. It was a frequent haunt of the young and homeless. My how times have changed. When this opened it was all the rage and a large coffee cost $2. You had 2 girls working there I remember, but just one cup. You guys stay safe. I also seem to recall buying a coon dik toothpick from spotlight kareoake [sic].
-BC
BoarCoon – I was going to mention as well that I thought that location was the first SB in Houston.
Wow. Memories. Back in my early houston days (when I’d come here for work), I’d go to that Starbies, or the one a few miles to the west (closer to beltway 8) all the time. My remote office.
Actually their coffee is not as bitter as Starbucks, and they have better pastries and deserts including gelato. Starbucks has its charms as well, they are both good chains.
If beans are roasted properly and good quality coffee is used, you don’t get that bitter taste.
At a fine dining place, if someone brings me a lemon slice with my espresso I will throw it away and tell them to learn how to roast their coffee. You don’t need no lemon slice if coffee is well,roasted properly.
That’s just how it is.
The first SBs were this one, and the ones inside the actual Galleria and Highland Village.