Summary

Bob Arrol, a pharmacist in Arcola, Illinois, pioneered the personalized coffee experience by writing customers' names on cups, a practice later popularized by Starbucks.

Abstract

In the small town of Arcola, Illinois, Bob Arrol revolutionized the local coffee scene by writing names on coffee cups, fostering a sense of community and personal connection. Starting in 1948, his pharmacy became the hub for locals to gather, discuss, and bond over coffee, leading to the creation of the "Coffee Club." This tradition, which required buying 100 cups of coffee to earn a personalized mug, became a town staple until Bob sold the pharmacy in 1986. Despite attempts to recreate the club, none matched the original's charm and success. The practice of writing names on cups, which Starbucks adopted in 2012, originated from this small-town innovation, highlighting the impact of personal touch in the coffee experience.

Opinions

The author suggests that writing names on cups, a signature Starbucks practice, was inspired by Bob Arrol's method of personalizing the coffee experience in Arcola.
Bob Arrol's intention was to create a community atmosphere and a personal connection with his customers, making his pharmacy more than just a place for transactions.
The "Coffee Club" was highly valued by the townspeople, with membership being a point of pride and a social badge of honor.
The author implies that the personalized service at Starbucks, where baristas call out customers' names, echoes the intimate atmosphere that Bob Arrol cultivated in his pharmacy.
The author expresses admiration for Bob Arrol's legacy, noting that his efforts to bring people together over coffee should be celebrated.

This Illinois Small Town Had Starbucks Before It Grew Globally

And it all started with one name.

Whether you frequent Starbucks or not, you know their method of communicating with customers.

The barista writes your name on the side of the cup. Then, when your drink is ready, they call your name, thus breaking the barrier between customer and employee.

Starbucks wants you to think of it as more than just a transaction.

So did Bob Arrol in the small town of Arcola, Illinois.

It Began with One Name

According to an Illinois Reporter article in 2014, Arrol opened up a pharmacy in this town of about 2,000 people in 1948. He later sold other items too like soda and coffee.

His son Robert said:

“One of (my father’s) friends, Horace Cisk, came and got coffee so often that my father said, ‘I’m just going to put your name on a cup, so I don’t have to wash it.’”

Thus began a new town tradition.

Before he knew it, folks would flood to Bob’s store each morning for a cup of coffee with their name on it. It soon came to be known as the “Coffee Club.”

The Club Becomes Part of the Town

Until 1986 when Bob finally sold the pharmacy, the “Coffee Club” was the talk of the town, where folks would literally talk.

In a tiny location that fit 20 people into 13 available seats, they would discuss current events and local gossip, watch the news on a small TV at the counter and read the newspapers. It was the town’s central nucleus system if you will.

The hub of the town.

But the deal was this.

Because of its popularity, one had to buy 100 cups of coffee before Bob would write your name on it. Each cup cost a mere nickel.

Once you joined the club, you were then given a mug with your name on it that Bob would then keep in the store for you.

Eventually, Bob stopped writing names on cups when it reached to 162 and he couldn’t fit them all onto the store’s shelf anymore. The waiting list grew, and the only way to join the club was if a member passed away or moved out of town.

Talk about VIP.

But Bob didn’t care about the money. He enjoyed the atmosphere and conversation. He loved that his place could bring everyone together over a cup of coffee.

He especially loved making a personal connection with folks, just by writing their name on a mug. It made it intimate, and more than just a cup of coffee.

Once, former CBS reporter Charles Kuralt even visited the coffee club to see what the hype was about.

After Bob sold the pharmacy, the new owner tried to recreate the old club. It didn’t last long.

A neighboring restaurant now long gone called the Dutch Kitchen even tried starting the club again. But it just faded like the end of a movie.

No one could do it like Bob.

Now Starbucks Does It All the Time

The whole point of Starbucks is have your name written on your cup.

It makes the experience both personal and fun. Who would’ve thought the act of doing so began in small town America.

While this story is not formally connected to the Starbucks chain, as it began writing names on cups in 2012, I’d like to think it was.

Bob Arrol essentially owned a Starbucks before it was even cool.

Today, Arcola doesn’t have another “Coffee Club” but more than likely does have older residents discuss local news and gossip like back in the day. All over a cup of coffee.

Some things do never change.

Closing Thoughts

The next time your name is called at Starbucks and you see it written on your cup, think of Bob Arrol.

He wanted to bring a community together over coffee, one name at a time. We should applaud him for his efforts.

Cheers to Bob and his “Coffee Club!”

Noah Nelson is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. He serves as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, a writer on Medium and the host of his blog called Nothing But Noah. “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” is his first book available now on Amazon. Like what you read? You can write for Medium too!