Every afternoon, many students head down the street to spend time at the shops on Cirby Way and Sunrise Avenue. Less than a mile away from Oakmont, stores like Pete’s Coffee, OMG! Yogurt, McDonald’s, The Bomb Teashop, Starbucks, and the Bel Air grocery store are visited often. 

James Fulea has been a barista at Pete’s Coffee for “seven or eight months” and spoke about when he sees the most students visit the store.

“[They] usually visit midweek. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, [at] around three to four [in the afternoon],” Fulea said.

He went on to share why he believes students like to visit Pete’s Coffee after school.

“It’s close by, especially for Oakmont students,” Fulea said, “Lots of space to lounge; it’s comfortable, good music, cool, free water. Everything they’re gonna need, especially during the hotter months.”

While spending time with her friend Danny at McDonald’s, freshman Alicia Fraser-Ramirez told us her opinion on her favorite places to hang out after school. 

“I like the atmosphere, like in Starbucks it’s peaceful and quiet and the AC is on,” Fraser-Ramirez said, “it [feels] very calming, and at McDonald’s it’s a more [interactive] place. [It’s] louder, you get to talk more.” 

“Pete’s would be a good place [to hang out], except they close early,” she added.

Ellyse Perkins, a barista and barista trainer at Starbucks who has been working at Starbucks for two years, spoke about her opinion on students visiting the store. 

“As a barista, we try to make our lobby and our space welcoming to any customer. I feel like it’s a fun place to go after school because it’s student friendly, there’s free Wifi… and obviously [a] big lobby, [and] nice seating.”

The stores on Cirby and Sunrise are so popular with students thanks to their proximity to Oakmont, and as Perkins said, perfect for “high school students that don’t have cars.”

“I come at least three times a week,” Fraser-Ramirez said.