To Starbucks or Not To Starbucks
So at the cable car turnaround near my house, on Taylor, there is a corner shop that keeps changing businesses. I heard from some neighbors the other night that this will soon be “one of those d—ed Starbucks.” In general, that would be my opinion too in regards to any new S-bucks (4-bucks, Assbucks, etc.) but in this case, I say, hurrah!
This corner is blighted and jinxed. Nothing survives there. It’s on Bay Street, which is a trafficky throughway, it’s across from a gas station, the opposite corner is one of those knick-knack touristy shops.
It’s all glass retail windows that have the charm of… well, something uncharming. So in reverse opinion to my earlier statements regarding the police and Starbucks, I say, welcome men in uniform, welcome Starbucks, welcome welcome. Because, needless to say, we always need more public restrooms, I mean, solid cafes. The one on the other turnaround, at Hyde, does a great business and isn’t big enough. It’s kitty corner to Buena Vista, which didn’t have a fall-off in business when it went in. Can’t get an Irish coffee at Starbucks (well, yet…).
I think a great new business idea for this Fisherman’s Wharf/North Beach neighborhood: good breakfast food. LIke Boogaloos or Chloe’s in Noe Valley. Artisan breads, good coffee, flat hash browns. What say you metblogs readers?
p.s. This shot is a funky through the car window angle, featuring my fleece in foreground double exposure, and of the S’bucks on New Montgomery street.
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In the specific case you cite, I agree that a Starbucks on a blighted corner can serve as a stabilizing force. Of course, by that logic, the entire southeast quadrant of the city would seem to be a huge underserved market for them.
Huge companies like Starbucks, Borders and Walgreens can afford to open a new outlet in a marginal location and serve as pioneers on a block, even if the outlet itself doesn’t make money for a year. And this can be a good thing overall if it helps stabilize a corner or a block.
As for Starbucks itself, I believe the main thing they sell is not coffee but ambiance. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but when I’m tired and need a place to sit down — especially in a strange city — a Starbucks is a welcome sight.
But, you know, their coffee really sucks.
Which is on purpose, of course — so that everyone, instead of buying coffee for $1.50, will buy at latte at $3 or something even more expensive. Whether this strikes one as exploitative or merely good business, the fact is if one never sets foot in the place one is relieved from this moral quandry. And goodness knows there are plenty of other places, especially in SF, to get coffee.
And speaking of cops and cafes, walk into Crepevine on Church St. on a Sunday morning and it is full of cops. Last Sunday I went in there and there were ten cops all eating breakfast together. And there was another table full of Muni drivers (judging by their conversation).
Is it the thin blue line that talks about the “calendar” way of rating a restaurant: if there are multiple calendars on the wall, from local businesses, then it’s a good spot?
I think that the big public service Starbucks does for us all is provide a clean bathroom. A friend was in Thailand and admitted that the Starbucks was the only place on the island with a generator, A/C, and a western toilet. Not that it’s a good thing- form of colonialism, in a way- but appreciated at times.
Let me preface my comments by saying that I will always chose a local coffee house over Starbucks if given the option. And there are a million places in SF that make better espresso than Starbucks.
But the thing is, most places don’t have espresso, except for at Starbucks. I am an espresso addict, and so having a Starbucks on every other corner no matter where I go is often a livesaver for me. Starbucks will go where local coffee houses will not, and so I am happy to give them my $2.00 for a double iced espresso.
Plus Starbucks treats its employees well compared to other national chains. It is one of the few places that will give health benefits to part-time employees. If I was out of a job and looking for some part-time interim employment, Starbucks is first on my list.
I know the corner that you’re speaking of. I think the problem is that it is a poor neighborhood. This particular turnaround has been an issue for decades. I remember a time in the 80’s when it was just plain scary. Any local business that opens there will have to cater to the neighborhood to survive, unfortunately the neighborhood doesn’t have any money. It’s a bad situation because the area does have great local businesses for those who walk away from the Wharf. A good example is Cafe Trieste on Green St. It is the complete opposite of Starbucks. Unfortunately tourists and people driving by won’t stop for a place that they haven’t heard of. Actually Cafe Trieste might have worked there, it would have been a struggle for at least a couple of years though. They have a big name locally but I’m not sure they’d have enough draw.
Starbucks probably signed a long term lease as well.
This unfortunately seems to be a case of “tourists typically aren’t travellers”. They want to do the same things they do at home in a different place. There is also a cultural issue. For example, I live near 24th & South Van Ness. A mostly low income, uncultured population. It is nearly imposible to get an Odwalla juice at a local liquor store. Actually, it is impossible. Philz Cofee (the white retreat) and Walgreens are my two choices. Even the Cala Foods has a dramatically different and healthier grocery selection than it’s sister store, Bell Foods at 24th and Sanchez. 24th and Sanchez is Noe Valley. A predominately white, upper class neighborhood.
Starbucks’ real estate scouts do their homework. This (older) article from the Willamette Week Newspaper addresses some of the “charges” against Starbucks and their business practices.
“Starbucks is ideal from an urban-planning standpoint,” Macht says. “They act as attractors, have small parking demands, and are pedestrian-oriented businesses. It gives the stamp of approval that an area is worth investing in.”
Interesting reading.
a delicious site to help you avoid the ‘bucks: delocator.net - you can add your favorite coffee shops to it too. huzzah!