I have found my working office. It's the Starbucks at the Kierland Commons mixed-use development on North Scottsdale Rd. at Greenway Pkwy. This Sbux is much larger than your average one, lots of room to spread out. The huge tables with laptop hookups are exactly what I need.

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Since I've been on the road, one of the first things I do when I visit a new city is find a local Starbucks to use as an office. In Tucson, I had two Starbucks I really liked: one on Speedway and the one near the UA campus on University Dr. So far, this is my favorite Sbux in Scottsdale. I'm sure I'll find other locations just as nice. Since I spend two or three hours minimum when I'm at a Sbux, it must be a nice one. I also stop daily at the Starbucks on Indian Bend Road near the Casino Arizona. It's handy, but small.

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Starbucks does have some serious competition, however, from a large Coffee Plantation cafe at the Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix. I love the Coffee Plantation. It has glass walls overlooking a manicured patio, plus free online access (at Starbucks I have to use T-Mobile). It is definitely upscale, being located next door to a Ralph Lauren retail store. I first stumbled upon the place after leaving the Border's Bookstore located across the parking lot.

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I mention these coffee shop locations because I spend so much time in them. I have always used Starbucks for work, even when I was brokering real estate back in Texas.