Love, love, love it!

Everything is changing so rapidly these days, like it or not, it is just the fact of life. Seems like everybody's attention span is getting shorter and shorter, concepts are evolving with speed of light and it's hard to imagine that food or fashion can get any faster...  People are expecting more and much quicker and much more exciting. And to succeed in this insane race, one needs to play a chameleon, creature that teaches us a thing or two about adaptability and flexibility.

On Monday I saw an e mail from Darcy, talking about few grand openings in the course of last weeks  and amongst them cutting the ribbon at Conduit Street store. I have learnt that the store design was heavy influenced by Pike Place shop in Seattle, the very first "Starbucks" ever opened. Since the chance to go to Seattle will come by not very soon, I went to Conduit Street instead.

As usual, I was quite sceptical at first, discounting Darcy's overtly enthusiasm on the same grounds that that of a mum smiling deliriously and clapping at her toddler dancing like a drunken horse and singing totally out of tune. He is a metaphorical Father of it all , at least, in UK and Ireland. He is tied to shine with pride like a polished samovar. However, Conduit Street is a delight. Surrounded by high end fashion stores (Vivien Westwood, Moschino, Krizia etc.), just off Regent Street, it is airy and light, with plenty of space and sitting on every level - hard chairs, low sofas, high bar style chairs. It delievers that semi-authentic independant coffee shop feel, that it is trying to achieve: giant bags of coffee on open shelves, paintings on the walls.

And the china!  I loved the mugs, I remember, we used to sell them and took them down for Xmas, but they are totally rad! Lighter, taller than ones we use now and much better looking. Novelty!

Downstairs area is a cross between night club and the library, which is a bit confusing, but I have to admire the inventiveness of the interior design guys, there are bookshelves and comfy sofas,  caves with low lights and soft puffs, that inspire inappropriate conversations and  intimacy. In the middle of the room sits a huge communal table, I guess it would be ideal meeting space for many PR consultanies thriving in the area.

I really liked it and am disappointed that it is located quite far away, but whenever I am  in town, I will be definetely visiting the Pike Place, sorry, Conduit Street.

PS. I also had a pleasure of talking to Maria briefly there, who is DCM in Soho.
I also took some pics of the shop, however, if you want to get full impression of what it is like, have a look at Starbucks Facebook page, or better still, get your bum to Conduit street!