Seattle Starbucks pay it backward trend leads from the front in WA

Barry Gipson
3 min readNov 25, 2020
Are the days of going to the local farmers' market as a family gone? Will COVID-19 actually impact how we exchange goods and services and create a whole new digital farmers market center in 2021?

The speed of the leader equals the speed of the team

The 42nd state of America and its citizens continue to set trends. It’s even better when it organically manifest’s you into the actual experience. As the entire West Coast increased its holiday restrictions recently until mid-December behaviors are surely changing at this pace.

Earlier in the spring, I made an essential drive-thru run for Starbucks. When I went to pay, the barista shared that the car before mine actually bought my grande Flat White and warmed slice of Banana bread.

The original Starbucks was founded in Washington over 50 years ago in Pikes Place Market. One of the oldest continuously operated public farmers’ markets in the United States. Exactly 42 miles from where I currently reside.

Will holiday flyers pay it backward also?

More than 3 million Americans are traveling through airports this holiday season. Defying advice from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

WA state appears to be the most isolated according to GOV Jay Inslee. The first COVID-19 case was actually documented in King county. Exactly where Pike’s Place Market is located. Continuing 2 lead from the front.

As I sat in the drive-thru to order my usual once again the pay it backward trend struck my order. The remaining cash this time went to the barista’s tip jar instead. While I paid for the order behind me. Paying it backward twice.

Thank you, Starbucks for remaining essentially open. Thank you to the frontline employees who continue to come in and serve the WA state, and its citizens during the pandemic. A slice and cup of daily reality.

Roasting it all up from ground zero

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Barry Gipson

A Father, Dallas Cowboys fan, and veteran sharing advice and more for the '24 NFL season. A pivot in content.