36th Street, Philladelphia, PA.  (11/4/2015, Rating B)

This is also an urban location, right by UPenn campus.  I was there in the middle of the afternoon (2:30) yet it was quite busy with students and others eating a late lunch or an afternoon coffee.

• The setup was urban, where you order in one location and pay in another (rather than the suburban number card system).

• The flooring was a mix of stone in good shape and some wood that definitely is showing wear.

• There were a few tables and chairs downstairs with more upstairs.  Again, furniture was in ok shape but not great.

• There was a good amount of outdoor seating available.

• Give it a B.

Berwyn, PA. (11/5/2015, Rating C)

The store was huge, but located in a sleepy shopping center in a seemingly endless row of shopping centers.  

• The flooring looked much better, instead of old varnished wood they used porcelain wood-look tiles, which is much more durable and modern.  It is in good shape.

• The entry hallway was similar to other locations, with a hallway directing customers past pictures of food to the hearth and registers.

• Again, the banquettes were old and upholstered and the chairs were chipped.

• I spoke to the assistant manager, who said the store is typically busy at lunchtime (I was there in the early afternoon, but past prime lunch time). He also said the coffee promo is a total flop in his location (and probably other suburban locations) where you are pretty much giving free coffee to people who are buying it anyway. It is not attracting new customers. He suggested local advertising using direct mail coupons to reach local customers.
  

• Rating: B/C, Michael assigns a C.

Bryn Mawr,PA. (11/4/2015, Rating C)

Jennifer: The store was located in a busy shopping / dining center, next to a frozen yogurt store in a suburban area.  

• It was a little late for lunch, but there were still a few people eating a late lunch inside or outside.

• The furniture looked a little better, no ugly upholstered banquettes, but still the chairs showed wear.

• The flooring was stone (not lacquered wood) which is more durable and showed less wear.

• The store inside felt more like an urban location, with smaller tables, stone floors, and pickup at the register (instead of the suburban number card system). The registers were less cluttered.

• Rating: B/C

• Michael assigns a C for the consistent clutter theme of COSI.

Central Valley, PA (11/4/2015, Rating C)

Jennifer visited a Cosi located ina a shopping mall in Central Valley, PA.  She arrived just as lunch was beginning, and there were a few people eating.  Observations:

• Furniture and flooring were consistent but dated and aging.  Could use an upgrade.  

• The store flowed well, with a hallway directing diners to the registers.  

• At the register, the counter was so full with those cooler displays of chia shots, drinks, and fruit that I could not put down my stuff to order.  It feels very cluttered, this is a consistent theme.

• Give it a B/C

• Michael input a C for this store as COSI maintains clutter throughout the system. COSI fixes the clutter and it gets a B at this location.