Starbucks in Missoula, Montana

As many of you who stop by A Thought Over Coffee on a regular basis know, Bozeman has not been graced with the presence of the green machine, the little mermaid, our friends at the jolly green giant. Not all Montana cities are still in this virgin state however. Missoula, about 4 hours west of Bozeman, has a Starbucks going downtown.. ..from an article found in the Missoulian on Friday... It's an encouraging reflection of how well things are going in Missoula these days that little else is causing as much teeth-gnashing among the local intelligentsia than the impending opening of a downtown Starbucks coffee shop. Oh, the horror! Starbucks ranks right up there with Wal-Mart and Microsoft among corporations most reviled in America, a land where there's such a thing as too much success. While I think there is more to it than people against success, there are quite a few people that are not big Starbucks fans. I think a few reasons are that many people are afraid that local coffee will be put to an end, that there are more socially and community minded companies than Starbucks, and that -- yes -- local coffee might even be better. Those small independent coffee shops and kiosks all over town that Starbucks now threatens? They owe their existence to Starbucks. It was Starbucks that got people to plunk down $2 for a cup of coffee and be glad about it. It the process it launched an entire industry - made up, by the way, largely of little, independently owned espresso shops that took a whole lot of business away from the cafes and restaurants that once did a brisk business with 25-cent cups of drip coffee. I agree and thank God for it. Starbucks has changed the way American's drink coffee -- dark, burned, and bitter. I am not sure you will find a independent coffee retailer that does not agree. The landscape has been set but are they really taking the torch? Are they setting the trends? The problem with big companies like Starbucks is that they are not flexible. Just to change the name of one of their fluffy blended beverages takes meetings, petitions, and proposals. How can they "catch the wave" in the same way an independent can? Then there is the term "barista": an Italian word meaning "a person who serves in a coffee bar. A bartender" Today there are thousands and thousands of young people earning money in coffee-making jobs - some with Starbucks, most elsewhere. These are jobs that didn't exist before Starbucks introduced Americans to the term “barista.” These aren't high-paying jobs, but they're plentiful with flexible hours, and they help pay rent or tuition. Pre-Starbucks, making coffee was something a waitress or bus boy did in between their many other chores. I heard a story not to long ago of a group trying to get some of the big name baristas and coffee personalities from around the world (many were from the US by Dr. Illy was also going to be around) together to do a coffee documentary. One of the barista that was to attend was a Starbucks employee who was great at what he did -- one of the best. A PR person told the group that was handling the program that they were not to use this term -- barista -- without the permission of Starbucks. What to you think those Italians would think if they heard this? I guess we have to clap and thank Starbucks for teaching us Americans the word (hardly a offense for Starbucks as this article points out). As many of you know, we at Cafe Evoke went head to head with Starbucks (here, here, and here). They got the better of us and probably won't even go into the space they said they would. As it turns out, they have letters in to many of the prime locations in the area in the chance they might want it. That does not leave room for any other business to go in. I am not afraid of "competing" with Starbucks. It is just a shame that they can freeze an entire market that is already striving with great local coffee -- both shops and roasters (see sidebar list for some MT coffee). Then, the article takes a turn in a way that I think it should have avoided... Starbucks also suffers from the same failing assigned to other major corporations - it hasn't solved world problems, such as Third World poverty. Starbucks hasn't turned poor coffee farmers into wealthy coffee farmers - as if anyone else has, would or coul If I were to really explain how there are MANY small indie's trying to help the global market, it would be as long as the blog! People are not against Starbucks because they do not support the global community. They are against Starbucks because they will not commit to doing more. Take the Starbucks Challenge for example. This is a campaign for Starbucks to live up to their own policy and mission. Serve more! You have done great things and have the potential of doing even better things! The "little guys" are doing so much but do not have the size of Starbucks. Just think how great it would be if all stores served fairly traded coffee? Now, don't even get me started here... Actually, it may not be possible to hate Starbucks without also opposing free enterprise, entrepreneurialism and capitalism in general. It's a shining example of all three. Finally the article ends with some nice words towards independents. Now a confession: Some of us haven't darkened a Starbucks' door for years. There's no shortage of good coffee to be had in these parts, and most of it is a good deal more conveniently obtained than by traveling to the nearest Starbucks. The opening of its downtown shop won't change that by much. We don't much fear for the survival of our favorite coffee vendors - they're not about to roll over and play dead. They'll compete, some of them fiercely, and most of them will find a way to succeed. Among them may be one that competes with such innovation and creativity that it becomes, well, the next Starbucks. If so, that will be a good thing. I will say this again..Starbucks IS NOT the definition of coffee in America. It has been a great missionary and tool for getting the word out but that is all. They have flaws like the rest of us. The reason I support local and buy local is to support this community. Starbucks stores in Bozeman will not support Bozeman. Money will not get plugged back into this community quite as well as a local. Yes, they are providing jobs and that money will be spent here but will they support local groups, local campaigns, and local charity? Having a Starbucks here will not end our coffee market. It will probably make it better. Just understand that when it comes to coffee, try your local and give them a chance. ...be bold Tagged: Cafe Evoke, Bozeman, Montana, Starbucks, Coffee