The Starbucks in West Hollywood, across from 24 Hour Fitness, is probably one of the busiest, most popular, cafes in the city.
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, long lines are prone to snake through the eclectic outlet, as patrons patiently wait to move up in line and order their morning cup of steaming java.
Until recently, oft times there was a jumble of confusion, as the line spilled this way and that - but the crowd in Boys Town is so polite, generally - did it really matter if someone shoved ahead when a head was turned to cruise some sweet young thing?
Then, someone at Starbucks got a novel idea!
Management proceeded to install a couple of waist-high partitions through a section of Starbucks - to facilitate a sort-of runway - to guide the hordes gently into the service and cash areas.
Frankly, I thought I was the only one amused by this approach...surely the folly of it all had soared over the sleepy heads of the early morning gang as they sought to curb their cravings for caffeine to head off the crack-of-dawn blues.
Today, a delightful man in a natty suit, and fashionable tie, turned and smirked,
"Don't you like the way they've corralled us?"
Yeah, like a herd of cattle, we were heading off to slaughter - to snap up double lattes, breakfast sandwiches, the latest tunes from their music roster, aesthetically-pleasing designer mugs, high-tech coffee grinders - you name it!
Clever marketing, yeah!
But, the pharmacy down the street had a keen idea, too.
They etched some footprints on the polished tile floor, so the teaming masses could fathom where to queue up, wait their turn, and pay for their super mega-vitamins, trojans, metrosexual hair products, and the like.
One day, two customers were arguing over where to stand, at which point, the pharmacist thrust a forefinger to the direction of the floor to confirm that the line should follow the neat patterns of little feet below.
Yeah, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them toe the line!
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