In January of 2004 a Starbucks opened in the Old Business District of Worthington, Ohio. This area of Worthington is the oldest area of the City and was built in the early 1800's. The area consist of locally owned walk-up store front businesses and restored homes.
One of the stores in the area was a successful and locally owned coffee house by the name of Scottie McBeans'. Scottie's customer base was mainly college age kids with an eclectic mixture of local residents.
Once Starbucks opened, Scottie's business took a nose dive. Residents and business owners began to realize that a big corporation "Starbucks" was not the best neighbor to have in the area.
In March of 2004, Starbucks requested permission form City Council to install a drive-thru window. Installation of a drive-thru window at Starbucks would have been the death knell for Scottie's. City Council, at the urging of residents and business owners, denied Starbucks request. What do you think happened next? - LITIGATION!
The corporate attorneys from Starbucks showed up and tried to force City Council to allow them to install a drive-thru window. Starbucks did not want to hear that it was a violation of zoning codes for the area and the fact that no other businesses in the area are allowed to have drive-thru windows either.
On May 2nd, 2004, the Starbucks burned to the ground during a heavy thurderstorm. The fire department ruled the fire as having been caused by a lightning strike.
About two weeks later the fire department held a press conference in which they stated that the fire was purposely set. The investigator stated that upon review of security tape, the fire had been ruled an arson. He said that a Molotov Cocktail was thrown through a broken window. The fire started in the main seating area, crept up a wall, and into the ceiling tiles. It burned for about 2-3 hours before a neighbor noticed the flames.
The building was a complete loss and all that remains is a burnt shell. Word has it that Starbucks is not going to rebuild and has no intentions of staying in Worthington. There is a celebration planned for the day that the bulldozers arrive to level the charred skeleton of Starbucks.
What can be learned from the incident;
1. Fires started during an electrical or thunderstorm may mislead
investigators as to the cause of the fire.
2. Always be aware of security cameras in, on, and around the target area. Had
it not been for the presence of security cameras, this fire would have
remained as having been caused by a lightning strike.
3. A window or door of the target should be opened or broken before throwing
the Molotov Cocktail into target.
4. Light the Molotov Cocktail before throwing it at target.
5. Do not sit around and complain about Starbucks. Always take action to try
and right a wrong. Do not sit on your hands and let corporate America
dictate how your community should bend over backwards for them. They need
use to survive, not vise-versa. The people of Worthington took action and
now Starbucks is gone from their community.
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Many people when informed about the choice between "subsidizing" a big corporation that will send money out of state and "investing" in a local merchant who will use most of his/her money locally, will choose the local company.
In Portland, there are dozens of Starbucks, but in many of those same neighborhoods, there's a thriving local coffee shop as well. I choose the local company wherever I see one, as do most of my friends and family. I think most people have a personal affection for local, small businesses, and will support them when informed of the pro's and con's.
Now if Scottie McBeans makes a lousy cup of joe that's another matter.