Starbuccaneer's Coffee and Bistro
While you are in the northeastern seaboard area of the US, adventurous casual diners might want to try out this small chain of walk-up restaurants!
The main difference between Starbuccaneer's Coffee or McSushi's Bistro and a food truck is that food trucks are cleaned and stocked at a Health Department Licensed Facility. This reasonable safety precaution does limit some of the options that a food truck operator can provide to their customers. At a stationary, indoor venue, health inspections can be reliably performed on a monthly basis, because the food safety and preparation equipment encounters fewer variables from day to day.
In other words: McSushi Bistro can stock a greater variety of tasty comestibles at a low price! Starbuccaneers can roast our own beans as needed, so the latest brew is always fresh!
McSushi's Bistro
Take a virtual walk with me through the Columbia Waterfront location:
Street approach from Hicks Street
by Aley Arai
We are located on the west side of the street, with a fine view across the canyon of Interstate 278. Wave to Michael Aiello Dairy! Fine, fine folks! Best mozzarella in the Waterfront District!
Star Buccaneer's Coffee
Star Buccaneer's Coffee
Stepping through the entry door
by Aley Arai
Our bright pastel beach theming puts the arriving pedestrian immediately at ease! Outside it might be darkest night or bleak winter drear, but inside this spot we have sun-kissed beachwood flooring and summer sea trim. Note the door to the west, directly ahead. That leads to the annex. But how can we pass the counter without picking up a pick-me-up?
Counter view from entryway
by Aley Arai
Buccaneer Bly stares off into the starry future. Bly keeps the roaster, grinder, brewing engine, and navigational register all operating in shipshape condition. Close to hand, rolltop cases tempt the visitor with a fine selection of seasonal baked bits.
The Main Dining Room
by Aley Arai
In the foreground, a tiered stand in the dark blue of the deep sea shows off artistic mugs and tins available for purchase. This month, we are proud to carry the Abalone Shellcraft series, made possible by Cosette Winslet.
We have sunlight-tinted glass in our exterior windows and as accents for our booths. Three booths are available to customers on each side of the dining area, and two small tables are available for single or duo patronage.
Full Counter View
by Aley Arai
In the foreground, one of the mugs for sale is visible. It has been painted to look as though it were made of abalone.
Our current Looted Flavors are
- Chai Mocha Espresso
- Headwind Tea
- Hot Sage Tea
- Nutmeg Cinnamon Medium Roast
Southwest Corner View
by Aley Arai
One ideal feature of this cozy space is that the front door is visible from anywhere in the cafe!
East Wall Booths
by Aley Arai
The beach blanket Sunshine Stripes theming continues on the bench padding for our booths, perfectly matched to the aqua blue of our Formica tables. Warm sunlight and cool refreshment, that's our vibe!
Moving on into the annex space
McSushi's Bistro
View upon entering McSushi Bistro
by Aley Arai
That is the wooden door against the textured plaster of the wall on the right in the foreground. The walls between the cafe and the bistro are triple-thick to help compartmentalize scents, sounds, and of course temperatures. McSushi Bistro is typically kept to a cooler ambient temperature than Starbuccaneer's Cafe.
Facing westward, we have a short walk to the Sushi Counter where our local McSushi San reigns. This floor is padded to help create a soothing welcome.
Sushi Counter area
by Aley Arai
Ray San is ready to assemble a customer's sushi order with lightning speed! Our current offerings are strictly market-dependent. Regulars rattle off their favorite orders by item number. New customers can photograph today's displays, make their decisions, and rejoin the line when they are ready.
For those who want a tasty adventure in a hurry, our most popular dining options are
- Big Mackerel Grilled Sandwich
- Shrimp McNuggets
- Filet o' Fries
- McSushi San's Secret Selection (a nine piece order!)
- Mc Kelp Shake
McSushi Perfectly Balanced Meal Combo
by
Aley Arai
These exciting dining options are available from the menu at McSushi's:
- Mc Kelp Shake on the top right, served in a plastic "stein" mug complete with hinged lid
- Filet o' Fries in the classic crimson McSushi box on the top left
- Shrimp McNuggets on upper left of the bowl in the center
- a single serving of sushi, selected from today's countertop case displays, in the upper right of the bowl in the center
- Big Mackerel Grilled Sandwich. So generous a serving that it fills the entire bottom half of the bowl!
Closer view of countertop sushi cases
by Aley Arai
McSushi's Bistro Dining Area
by Aley Arai
This eastward view aims back toward the Starbuccaneer's Cafe door.
Note the eye-catching contrast of the Abalone Shellcraft bowls on our White Shell Navy picnic-style tables. They contrast wonderfully atop the Sunshine Stripes Beach Towel flooring. Regional manager Fi Saraf has truly outdone herself with this quirky decor!
Ceiling Camera View
by Aley Arai
The only component missing, is you!
Why not stop by today?
Sensory & Appearance
At most Star Buccaneer's Coffee locations, ambient beach sounds are streamed rather than a radio station.
Denizens
Buccaneers (the rank and file employees, whether baristas or bakers or itamae or over-the-road drivers working directly for the chain) are encouraged to drop hints to the regulars about a past career on shipboard. Buccaneers get double pay on Talk Like A Pirate Day or at any promotional event done at an aquarium. As in any customer service job, some employees take to this theme with enthusiasm, while many simply go along.
McSushi Sans (the lower and middle levels of shift leaders and site managers) are often recruited from the ranks of the Buccaneers, but they are also often semi-retired veterans of the restaurant industry. Any one site has its hours of sushi counter operation tied to the number of McSushi Sans on the payroll: it is not unusual to have five employees of this rank, each of which works 35 hours per week. The total paycheck is not high enough for a single person to cover their cost of living. On the other hand, McSushi Sans do receive company benefits such as health care plans and a week of paid vacation per year. Expect most McSushi Sans to be middle-aged or older, to have other sources of income, and to feel confident that the chain owner will support any decisions about problem customers.
While this restaurant chain does have multiple locations across several states in northeastern United States, it is not operated as a franchise: all locations ultimately belong jointly to the founder, Aley Arai, and the managing executive, Briony Juran. Ms. Juran chooses the regional managers and Purchasing Executives with some care. So long as these employees do not stray outside her rules of conduct, they are permitted a fair amount of leeway to experiment with local decisions such as decor variations or limited time specialties.
Architecture
Even when a location was built from scratch, a Starbuccaneer's Coffee and McSushi Bistro site gives the impression of a pre-existing structure upcycled and repainted. The chain leans heavily into the theme of small-time entrepreneurs on their fourth or fifth career path.
Maps
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Starbuccaneer's Coffee and McSushi Bistro
Brooklyn, New York has a handful of locations where one can find Starbuccaneer's Coffee, usually paired with McSushi's Restaurant. This particular spot is located at 548 Hicks Street in the "Columbia Street Waterfront District" section of northwestern Brooklyn. Columbia Waterfront Star Buccaneer's Coffee and McSushi BistroOriginally, this impoverished competitor chain to the more famous Washingtonian chain relied more heavily on the piratical theme. However, the "Columbia Waterfront Location" -- which is, in fact, not at all in sight of any waterways -- soon got a makeover in a beachy theme. A rather unsightly makeover. Entry from street side comes into the coffee shop. Limited seating is available here. Most patrons get their coffee and perhaps a baked good, and continue walking to their destination. The interior door leads into McSushi's Bistro, a quick service restaurant that offers cheap sushi and glass-bottled beverages. Viewed from outside, McSushi's Bistro is obviously much taller than the building of the cafe in front of it. Repeat visitors speculate that all food storage, preparation, and dishwashing happen up there. But how is that area reached? Only trusted employees (and, one should hope, the city health inspector!) can say for certain.
Type
Cafe / Tearoom
Parent Location
Related Report (Primary Locations)
Note on creation of the images in this article
The objects shown in all graphics on this page are the artistic creations of a Second Life person who has gone by "Aley Arai", "Arcadia Asylum", and related identities. They create some truly nifty digital art, great for all sorts of storytelling, and then they give these creations away for free. (In fact, in certain situations, technically they operate at a loss!)
These creations are not just completely functional; they are copyable, editable, and allow being given to others.
The only real restriction Aley/Arcadia has made on this entire vast library is that it must always remain free. If I make changes to something I got from the Arcadia Free Library, I cannot turn around and charge others for this collaborative work.
I have learned more than I can enumerate about shapes, digital design, geometry, and scripts, thanks to these free items that I am allowed to take apart and study.
Everything shown in an image in this article was originally made by Aley. I have taken textures that I acquired elsewhere and used my beginner level skills to make some modifications to Aley's work (mostly by removing the bits that did not serve today's story), then change their coloration.
Aley's original McSushi Restaurant and Star Buccaneer's Coffee Shop, both part of the "Pirate Town" collection, look significantly better than what I show on this page. My goal was to make a slightly off-putting pair of tiny restaurants, the sort of venue one only visits if one is either seven years old or else desperate for an equally cheap alternative to Taco Bell. Ah, to be young again! Able to eat anything I please without worries about the food quality!
Comments
Author's Notes
For our patrons with food sensitivities: "SparklespiceTM" is an edible glitter made from large grain cane sugar mixed with gelatin bits. One to go cup of our coffee, if a variety with "SparklespiceTM" has been chosen, should be considered the equivalent of two sugar packets. Customers with sugar sensitivity should avoid SparklespiceTM.