Shott On Location: Spreading the Wealth at Smith Street's New Starbucks

"Oooh, is that the macchiato?" asked one black-frame spectacled customer seated near the doorway, as employees of Smith Street's newest java joint presented her with a tray of small cups topped with caramel and whipped cream around 7 p.m. on Thursday night.

Handouts seemed in great demand, as Starbucks officially started doing business this week at the corner of Smith and Wyckoff streets--the burgeoning brand's first location along this hip Brooklyn strip.

Soon after the sample-tray servers departed, another woman sporting a do-rag began making the rounds, asking laptop users seated at the venue's nine tables to spare a dollar or so.

At least one customer was feeling the coffee company's stated mission to "[c]ontribute positively to our communities."

"I gave her two dollars," said a smartly dressed, computer-equipped gentleman at a nearby table, "to leave me alone."

"She's been here twice today," remarked a store employee.

Behold, the fledgling caffeine outpost's first regular!

- Chris Shott