Smaller coffee shops in DC area say they're doing just fine

Martin Mayorga, a roaster who has several coffee shops in the Washington, DC area, is asked if he's happy that Starbucks is having problems. "God knows there are many people who would love to see me fail," he says. "I've learned never to be happy when someone else fails." (Read the Washington Post article)

Comments

[truth]

It's easy to make money selling coffee.

It's not as easy to make money when you sell coffee AND construct life-size scale models of your original store in the middle of a NYC park....and fly the big wigs there....to pass out free coffee....to promote a product which is silently being discontinued a month later.

That's not as profitable.

[short drip]

Hi Truth.

That is funny and so true. But how else could the company justify all the salaries if senior egos were not used as marketing schemes? Actually, it is brilliant!

Justify your job by promoting your boss's ego. Bloody brillaint I say.

As for Mayorga...good for you. I hope you do as well as we did when we were as small.

The most sad thing Starbucks did is to "offer a sense of belonging" and then ask the same person to leave.

Ouch

[P.R.I.D.E.]

I'm personally glad that these smaller independants have not seen much impact- I think there is room for all of us. Despite what many speculate, we don't want to see them fail anymore than they want to see us fail- were all in the same business and want to see the industry continue to grow.

[LouLou]

The little independent stores have something different to offer than Starbucks does. I think Starbucks used to try and foster the "small town, small store, homey" environment, but we all know that the "third place" Starbucks has developed is not exactly the feeling that some are looking for. I would personally pay a little bit more for a (possibly) slightly less delicious beverage served in an artistic mug or teapot with a free newspaper and live music.

[lattegal]

I love independent shops. But I also think that instead of slamming Starbucks they really should be thanking them. Like it or not Starbucks has educated a nation about coffee.

[formershift]

I'm currently living in Seattle and I'm amazed at the number of quality independent coffee houses in this city. My personal favorite is Zoka Coffee Roasters (especially the one near Greenlake) because they epitomize the perfect coffee house--it cozy, you can linger as long as you want, free wifi (hint Starbucks, hint), great loose leaf teas (Dragonwell is my fav), amazing coffee (they have 3 clovers!) and espresso (Marzocco of course)and their pastries/sandwiches rock. And, they are always busy.

[starbuckscustomer]

Not sure how long it's been up but Vivano is now listed on Starbuck's website. It's on the beverage lineup page in the pulldown menu.

Banana Chocolate

Banana Chocolate with Espress Shot

Orange Mango Banana Blend

Orange Mango Banana Blend with Matcha

[starbuckscustomer]

The Vivano is now on the front page of Starbucks.com

[SoCalBarista]

Does anyone know the nutritional stats for the various flavors of Sorbetto? We put like 4pounds of sugar in one of the bases so its not going to be healthy but I'm still curious.

[StLouieDrip]

LatteGal, where in that article did the indies slam sbux?

[lattegal]

I was talking in general about Indie Shops, not just those interviewed for the article. I hear a lot of negative comments about Starbucks from indie shops and from barista's that work at them. I actually worked at a indie shop before working for Starbucks and uncalled for comments that were made about Starbucks really turned me off.

[CoffeeGirl]

I want to correct something mentioned in this article about Starbucks being in trouble. Starbucks is actually not in trouble with the closing of 600 stores. They are continuing to open 200 stores a year -- an extremely high growth rate. The problem was where the stores are located. If there's two Starbucks right across the street from each othr and one is not as profitable as the other, it is being shut down to help the growth of the other store. All partners losing jobs are being compensated or re-located to nearby stores. Starbucks stock continues to grow, and the closing of stores is just Howard Schultz's attempt at making Starbucks an even greater place to enjoy a cup of coffee. Also, in regard to smaller, independent coffee shops, I wanna remind everyone that there would be no market for those if it wasn't for Starbucks. When Starbucks first opened in 1979 in Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA, there were no other coffee shops around. Howard Schultz modeled them after the espresso bars he saw in Italy. Other entrepenuers liked the idea of Starbucks and then created these "independent" coffee shops in the likeness of Starbucks.