Starbucks on Franklin Ave?

whynot_31

I'm kind of disappointed that we haven't had a real anti-corporate zealot come along and point out that places with Starbucks are devoid of all redeeming qualities.

I'd point out how many countries they presently have locations:

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

Then, I would wonder aloud how far around a location is destroyed. A few storefronts? A few blocks? The entire city? The entire country?

newguy88

whynot_31 said:

I'm kind of disappointed that we haven't had a real anti-corporate zealot come along and point out that places with Starbucks are devoid of all redeeming qualities.

I'd point out how many countries they presently have locations:



source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

Then, I would wonder aloud how far around a location is destroyed. A few storefronts? A few blocks? The entire city? The entire country?

The entire world if not the whole solar system. Starbucks has only three redeeming features.

1. Free bathrooms

2. Free WIFI

3. they don't kick you out if you come into use the above and don't buy anything.

epiclylaterd

Tate, shows you how much I pay attention to anything

whynot_31

We really need frothy, irrational posters to make this debate worthwhile. You know...

Artists!

Revolutionaries!

Sadly, they are gone. We have lost the neighbors who seem to believe that blogging is a medium in which to spread utopian world views, and whom believe that Starbucks must be shamed out of existence for some offense they read on Mother Jones, Dissent or The Nation.

http://www.google.com/search?q=mother+jones+The+nation+Dissent+"starbucks"&hl=en&gbv=2&oq=mother+jones+The+nation+Dissent+"starbucks"&gs_l=heirloom-serp.3...8745.27534.0.28044.8.7.0.1.0.0.118.699.2j5.7.0....0...1ac.1.24.heirloom-serp..8.0.0.nPuHrckOpik

As pointed out by goldemi, Franklin Avenue now only provides us with their sympathizers as entertainment: Under-employed, wealthy, guilt ridden, cheese eating, Proust readers.

Perhaps because others don't want to sit by them, Starbucks will thrive.

whynot_31

From another message board:

People sort of forget we're the Columbus' of Crown Heights. Fixies and overly complicated coffee drinks are our 'small pox".

ap

I don't have a problem with Starbucks opening on Franklin; however, I do hope they don't pull too many customers from small businesses like Nimba, Pulp & Bean, Little Zelda, Lily & Fig and Breukelen Coffee House.

I imagine Starbucks being the go-to spot for visiting parents of the neighborhood's newer young inhabitants.

whynot_31

From another message board:

In all the newly gentrified, hip neighborhoods. At first the new residents complain, then buy the coffee anyway. Pumpkin spice lattes triumph! Lena Dunham writes an episode of Girls about it, and wins another Golden Globe. Tina Fey throws a drink in her face durning her acceptance speech. That drink is a pumpkin spice latte. Starbucks triumphs again!

mishaps

I was just traveling earlier this month, and I went to Starbucks a lot on the trip, because I knew I would get an acceptable latte, free wifi, and sometimes even an outlet to recharge my phone. When I'm at home, though, I'm happy to go to local places, because it's easier to take a "what the heck" view of a terrible coffee, or a rude manager, when you know you can walk down the street and have other good options instead.

(I remember living on Vanderbilt in the pre-Joyce days, when there was only one coffeeshop option, and that place was run by a crazy lady. Not all local coffee shops are worth supporting...)

ehgee

Starbucks offers health insurance to part-timers, unlike a lot of service industry jobs.

wbm

I'm always the last to know...

I think Starbucks will do very well on Franklin. All those folks walking to the subway on their way to work, or those who will soon be walking the other way to 1000 Dean will stop in for fast and consistent service. Something that Breukelen and Pulp & Bean struggle with during the morning commute, unfortunately. I'm sure I'll stop in for a double espresso once they open.

samuelcole

Also Starbucks got people used to paying real money for good coffee. I don't remember, but I'll bet my first good cup of coffee was from Starbucks.

I've heard that having a Starbucks come to town is very good for the small coffee shops, because Starbucks educates people on why coffee might be worth 3$, and then those people start buying coffee from smaller shops because they are closer or whatever.

We probably don't need that in Brooklyn, though.

thecameralady

Bring on Starbucks!

For me it's less about whether or not I will actually patronize it (although I probably will occasionally if I walk up Franklin Avenue); it's more about what it means for the neighborhood.

I grew up here. Years ago I wouldn't have dreamed that Starbucks (or half the stuff on Franklin on the other side of Eastern Parkway) would have been there. I just wish it were to open south of Eastern Parkway. :-)

goldemi

Reading cameralady's post makes me realize that the sbux would maybe cater to an audience that the likes of Zelda or Breukelen dont, which is all the 'regular' people...those over 30, not seeking hip coffee places, maybe with kids in tow (me). i.e., the 99%.

travelriter

I really love our small, local coffee places. After living in the neighborhood for 12 years, it was nice to finally have a way to get to know more of my neighbors and have a meeting place. However, because I am that grad student who sometimes can only sometimes afford to buy multiple $2.75 (plus tips) cups of tea plus snacks, there are other days when I go to Starbucks because I can get my 54 cent refills all day and get my work done. I alternate.

whynot_31

A Starbucks continues to be in the works for Franklin Avenue, but construction has not yet begun on the former location of Climax, because they have an even larger prize in sight.http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/the-vacant-spot-left-by-climax-775-franklin-corner-of-st-johns/page/5/

whynot_31

While we are waiting to see which location will be chosen by Starbucks, I thought I would pass on this article about a parody store that has opened.http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/02/10/dumb-starbucks-parody-free-coffee/5357597/I hope they have a good attorney.

whynot_31

I wonder if the Starbucks that opens on Franklin will serve beer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/03/20/soon-youll-be-able-to-get-a-real-drink-at-starbucks/

travelriter

One thing about Starbucks is that everyone knows you can go in there and hang out for hours without the staff hassling you to leave. I think this place will be full of grad student types nursing one cup of coffee and studying for hours.

Yet it still won't beat the Dunkin Donuts on Nostrand which is open 24 hours a day. Coffee House Deathwatch just got real!!!

Homeowner, I'm one of those students, lol. While I would NEVER do that to Eric, Khalil, Rafael, Flannery or any of other small cafe owners who I love and try to support whenever possible, there are times when funds are low and I feel absolutely no guilt nursing a cup for hours. Actually, one of the reasons I tend to leave C. Heights to find a Starbucks to work all day is bc they offer 50cent refills. When Starbucks opens I'll alternate depending on my wallet.

heightsmom

I'd take a Starbucks over the "drug den/video store" on Washington Ave between Sterling and St. John's. While we're at it, I'd welcome a chain drugstore to replace Thriftway, or Thriftcare.

lifeofjangus

Someone at one of the smaller coffee shops should consider selling Charbucks.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/15/us-starbucks-charbucks-lawsuit-idUSBRE9AE0Z120131115

whynot_31

I hope Starbucks runs this ad to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and the environment:

http://vimeo.com/m/89527215

It works every time.

goldemi1

Great video! (I work in brand management, and shared with team). Hey, 60% of the time it works every time.

whynot_31

60% of the local audience might be susceptible to the word "artisanal".    If I were the Starbucks opening on Franklin Avenue, I'd put that word on the wall somewhere.

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Photos:   Brooklyn Independent Media "BRIC"

whynot_31

Guess which corporation's engineers were in 341 Eastern Parkway today measuring things?

Answer: Starbuck's

newguy88

And there goes the neighborhood.

whynot_31

Less than six months from now, I expect to overhear:

"Yea, before Starbucks opened, this neighborhood was cool. Now it is nothing but apartment buildings for people pushing strollers, and fancy places to eat and drink."

...and I will smile, because I have been tracking the transition since 2006.

mike dunlap

Starbucks there is the equivalent of the Dunkin' Donuts at Eastern Parkway. It doesn't really affect the neighborhoods up the avenue. Both would be much worse were they in the middle of the neighborhoods up the avenues.

Pulp & Bean should welcome this. It will draw people that way, many of whom will end up going to Pulp & Bean instead much of the time.

whynot_31

In the event that Starbucks opens in 341 EP before September, Pulp and Bean will begin serving Steve's Ice Cream.

This will put him in competition with Yogu Moo.

However, his location near the subway stairs is superior to theirs.

dac545

Is there something that Pulp and the Bean will stop selling when Starbucks moves in?  Not sure if I'm missing something here..

whynot_31

He will stop selling coffee if and when it becomes unprofitable.

Starbucks may be so popular that it has a line. He could continue to serve people who want coffee quickly, and want to say "large" as opposed to "grande".

If that fails, I'd convert the space into a vestibule for Chase ATM's. This would get the business of people who don't have accounts with Capital One, and make him a landlord as opposed to an operator.