As I got off the bus at 96th St and Lexington, I gasped, said "Oh, No!" and covered my mouth. A Starbucks would be opening right there on the cusp of East Harlem. Is this bad news? My initial reaction was obviously, "Yes." But this could just be another sign of the neighborhood changing. Change is not necessary a bad thing, if it comes with the amenities we need in the area. On the subject of amenities, I'm hoping for larger supermarkets that stay open late and offer more fresh produce. Regarding Starbucks specifically, it would be nice to have a coffee shop with later hours as well (the East Harlem Cafe has fairly limited hours). I'm torn about how I feel about this Starbucks. What do you think? Will you be grabbing a cup o' joe there once it opens in September, or do you prefer supporting a local establishment?
Support the locals! There's a Starbucks inside of Target, and I already dread that they'll get more business than the much more deserving Love Cafe, which is just a block down the street on Pleasant Ave. But as a fan of Target (despite their recent corporate political donation shenanigans), I can't turn around and say having a Starbucks is a bad thing - just as long as they leave enough business for everyone.
ReplyDeleteLevi