A Starbucks worker of nearly 20 years says the chain has gone from 'quirky coffee shop' to 'soulless fast food empire'

• Starbucks is at a crossroads with former Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol set to take the helm this month.
• One longtime employee says that Starbucks has become more like fast-food rivals.
• Working at the chain has changed a lot since the mid-2000s, the employee said.

In 2008, Starbucks investors were pressing CEO Howard Shultz to cut costs at the coffee chain.