Located north of Central Avenue lies the coffee shop drive-thru, Exit 11. With the warm staff, convenient placing and delicious flavor options, Exit 11 is a frequently visited shop by citizens. Whether people need a boost in the morning or a sugary treat while they work, the halls are filled with students holding cups with the black and green logo. The local and community-based environment makes it a fan favorite.
“I used to go to Starbucks a lot, but that’s really far from where I live, and this is like five minutes from where I live, so it’s really close,” Cadence McCollough, 12, said.
McCollough talks about her choice for Exit 11 considering its proximity to her home, rather than the closest Starbucks in Wildwood, Mo. The drive through is a specialized feature that is much appreciated, causing more efficiency through the buying process and faster time to get their coffee. The local placement and drive through of the shop helps improve the convenience to students and teachers of getting a sweet treat before school/work.
When asked about how the staff helped her experience, Alysia Abbott, math teacher, talks about how staff and environment at Exit 11 are much appreciated, especially the younger workers that are often seen on weekdays.
“Oh, they were fantastic. I’ve had great experiences the few times I’ve been and I think each coffee shop offers their own special features,” Abbott said.
The employees open the window with a smile ear to ear and treat the customers with the respect they deserve. Staff are praised for going above and beyond to show patience to the customers, and even remembering regular’s orders. McCollough has experienced her coffee made with little to no instruction, before it’s already in her hand.
“They’re really sweet. It’s only been open for a little bit, and one of the girls already knows my order based on how much I go,” McCollough said.
As Exit 11 is a local business in the heart of Eureka, they prioritize their customers’ wants and needs as reflected in their menu with the immense amounts of options of syrups, flavors, styles, etc, it can easily be overwhelming to choose only one yummy drink.
“I get an iced caramel macchiato, and I absolutely love that one. It’s really sweet, but it also just has a good flavor,” McCollough said.
Unlike something sweet, it is also common for people to crave something more flavorful or bitter.
“I just do black coffee, maybe sometimes with a little peppermint syrup or something if I’m feeling fancy,” Abbott said.
With fan favorite treats and support from the local community, an Exit 11 drink will never go wrong.
“I like their coffee, it’s close to my house and it’s a drive through. So those three things put it top of my list, it’s perfect,” Abbott said.
