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elSicomoro · 11-23-2001, 07:03 PM

This was sorta touched upon earlier, but to put it out there...

Starbucks has been around for 30 years. Obviously, you can't expand your business if you don't have a good product. I personally think they make a great product. They also give back to the community. Hell, you could argue that they make Joe Q. Public *think* about coffee.

The one thing I've noticed is that each Starbucks, while generally similiar, has its own uniqueness about it. Be it a particular couch, the layout, etc. For example, the Starbucks at 36th and Walnut in University City (Philadelphia) has an upper level and a large patio. While the Starbucks at Delmar and Leland in University City (St. Louis) has a small patio, but a little "nook" where there are a few cushy chairs for you to sip and read the Post-Dispatch or Newsweek or whatever.

And it's not like it's just Starbucks. There is also Seattle's Best and Panera Bread/St. Louis Bread Co., popping up all over the place.

Hopefully jag, Melburnians will not do what was done in Chicago 2 years ago. Starbucks has a TON of locations in Chicago...even I would say there are too many there. Apparently, a new one was opening up in a neighborhood, much to the chagrin of its neighbors. One night, the soon-to-open location was vandalized...windows broken out, even some graffiti I believe.

I believe the local folks and the big chains can coexist happily. If anything, they should keep each other on their toes.

11-23-2001, 07:03 PM	#19
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	This was sorta touched upon earlier, but to put it out there... Starbucks has been around for 30 years. Obviously, you can't expand your business if you don't have a good product. I personally think they make a great product. They also give back to the community. Hell, you could argue that they make Joe Q. Public think about coffee. The one thing I've noticed is that each Starbucks, while generally similiar, has its own uniqueness about it. Be it a particular couch, the layout, etc. For example, the Starbucks at 36th and Walnut in University City (Philadelphia) has an upper level and a large patio. While the Starbucks at Delmar and Leland in University City (St. Louis) has a small patio, but a little "nook" where there are a few cushy chairs for you to sip and read the Post-Dispatch or Newsweek or whatever. And it's not like it's just Starbucks. There is also Seattle's Best and Panera Bread/St. Louis Bread Co., popping up all over the place. Hopefully jag, Melburnians will not do what was done in Chicago 2 years ago. Starbucks has a TON of locations in Chicago...even I would say there are too many there. Apparently, a new one was opening up in a neighborhood, much to the chagrin of its neighbors. One night, the soon-to-open location was vandalized...windows broken out, even some graffiti I believe. I believe the local folks and the big chains can coexist happily. If anything, they should keep each other on their toes.