It Will Always be a Fight

I found this article today documenting another Starbucks move into a coffee marketing that has a few popular independents. I feel like this is close to home as we have been in "competition" for a location with Starbucks and we WILL have our own little mermaid at some point in the future here in Bozeman. My thing with Starbucks is that it is not very comfortable to sit around. It is loud and sterile with no real uniqueness. It does not matter if you are drinking charcoal in Nashville or Bozeman, they are the exact same. Then again, there's a romantic ambiance and cozy atmosphere that separates the local independents from the somewhat sterile environments of the chains, said some java lovers. "The independents are more genuine; they have a certain presence," said Jess McCluney, a Roanoke College student and former employee of Mill Mountain in Salem. I like to see these coffee companies in VA not stepping down but rather standing up to the idea of their very own local Starbucks entering their market. "Competition gives me a chance to prove my product is good," Buckley said. "We [Java the Hutt] have the flavored lattes and blended drinks; mostly everything a shop does, but without the couches and live music. That is what all independents need to do. Starbucks IS NOT the definition of coffee in this country. They have done great things for coffee here in the US but they should not be included in the Webster's definition of the drink. I will have more on our situation with the giant next week. ~~be bold