Comments on: Is Starbucks the gateway drug to downtown development?

By: Austin Cassidy

Austin Cassidy — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 23:53:23 +0000

What exactly are the costs you’re referencing?

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:01:24 +0000

As someone recently liberated from living within walking distance of the twin Starbucks across the street from each other (in Houston) made famous by Lewis Black’s comedy monologue, I feel compelled to offer a general invitation to Jacksonville to please, please be mindful of how the urban development evolves.

Driving around I can feel/visualize how Jacksonville’s space and spread could easily become a Houston-like cobble of concrete.

The shopping and third spaces in a city like Houston certainly can be attractive. And the perception (see this month’s Continental’s in-flight magazine for example) of the economic upside for this growth seems to be increasingly seductive. However, the costs — and their layering year after year — are no where near worth it, and extremely difficult to reverse or alter once in place.

I’m glad to back in Florida and in a smaller city (I grew up in Tampa when the city’s motto was “Tampa: The Next Great City” — really, this was the motto, I remember it in the endzones of the old Tampa Stadium during NASL games. NASL!). I’d hate to get to feeling the way I did the last few years I lived in Houston.

Towards the middle way…..

By: Austin Cassidy

Austin Cassidy — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:27:15 +0000

Ok, well if not Little Ceasars then think of K-Mart. Starbucks is successful because people like going there. I don’t particularly care for it, but a large percentage of the population does. Same idea… opening a bunch of K-Mart stores in Jacksonville isn’t going to squash (or seriously dent) Wal-Mart or Target. Most consumers don’t just go to an establishment because it’s everywhere, they choose it for some reason… service, price, quality, or whatever.

By: David

David — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:33:28 +0000

I find that Starbucks doesn’t really cater to real social development.
By it’s design, it’s for people to come in, get there coffee and leave within a realtively short period of time (1 hr). After-which the chairs (by there design) become uncomfortable.

By: David Knighton

David Knighton — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:25:14 +0000

They can put a Starbucks every 50 feet for all I care. I want my damn Venti Caramel White Chocolate Mocha!

By: Johnny

Johnny — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:36:18 +0000

There used to be several Little Caesar’s in NE Florida. They all closed…

By: Adam Beaugh

Adam Beaugh — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:30:04 +0000

WHAT! little caesar’s in greenville had a lunch special where you got a large pepperoni pizza for $5. it was the BEST!

By: Austin Cassidy

Austin Cassidy — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:34:54 +0000

“These places would not survive if there was not the clientel to support them. No one makes you go into a Starbucks or McDonalds. You go there because you like the product. Convenience is also a factor.”

Exactly! Consumers are the ones who decide what does and doesn’t succeed in the marketplace. If you all of a sudden opened 30 Little Caesars Pizza locations in Jacksonville, I would bet you anything that 1-2 years later most of them would be closed and the existing landscape wouldn’t have been altered much.

By: PCollins

PCollins — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:52:55 +0000

I remember 8-track tapes.

“clunk!” ….sitting on the dock of the bay…
“clunk!”…..calling, Dr Love, I’m calling Dr. Love…”
“clunk!” …………

Although I was at the END of that particular era…

By: Mom Marchy

Mom Marchy — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:42:33 +0000

For the most part I truly enjoy a trip to Starbucks. The music is never the same, and always good. They offer a selection of brews and coffee paraphanalia, music, books and a nice safe place to chill and people watch. Look how many Gate gas stations and Publix markets there are, that we all like to frequent because they are clean and have quality products. These places would not survive if there was not the clientel to support them. No one makes you go into a Starbucks or McDonalds. You go there because you like the product. Convenience is also a factor. There are plenty of mom/pop and independent operations still around. We live in an ever changing world, what’s here today might well be gone tomorrow, replaced with a new and better idea. You guys probably don’t remember 8-track tapes.