Shopping| Published on February 13, 2007 1:51 pm

Starbucks debate heats up Short North

By: Walker

Starbucks debate heats up Short North

Meredith Wilkie

Issue date: 2/13/07

Starbucks, a globally recognized coffee company with more than 8,300 stores, will be opening a new location in the Short North.

Although some welcome the anticipated summer opening as another choice for an espresso, others find it to be a setback for the community.

Paul Schwartz, a manager of The Coffee Table, a locally owned café at 731 N. High St. in the Short North, said a nearby Starbucks could hurt his business.

Valerie Carlborg, a Starbucks representative, said the Seattle-based coffee shop would complement independent businesses in the area.

“We feel that Starbucks represents one choice in the community,” she said.

“We anticipate opening our store in the Yukon building in the summer,” Carlborg said.

Tags: debate

Author: Walker Walker is the founder of ColumbusUnderground.com and co-founder of TheMetropreneur.com along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media from a hobby into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.

56 Comments

dru February 13, 2007 8:48 pm

the ‘bucks usually offers wireless via t-mobile, so it’s $9.95 per day. the coffee table and cup a joe have free wireless. oh, and unless somethingn has changed recently, CoJ accepts credit in the SN.
gramarye February 13, 2007 9:01 pm

I don’t have any particular objection to chains; the question ought to be which chains, where. Starbucks will hardly be out of place in the Short North, and I doubt that they’re just going to set up something as modest as a mall kiosk. Despite the fact that it’s a chain, their stores actually do vary, if not tremendously, from place to place.

A Camille’s could probably fit into the Short North somewhere, or a Panera (I don’t think either of those have set up in the area yet …).
dru February 13, 2007 11:11 pm

although the SN locale won’t necessarily be the case, one of the things i always give kudos to the ‘bucks about is the amount of old properties that they convert into coffee shops. in columbus we have an old pizza hut in clintonville, and old bank in bexley, and old friendly’s restaurant in grandview and also what i can only assume was an old photo kiosk on 5th in grandview. elsewhere i’ve seen them retrofit gas stations, fried chicken shacks, etc… many of these properties would have otherwise continued to deteriorate.

but in the summertime, i’m still getting my cold bomb from the coffee table.
20thousandinmypocket February 14, 2007 3:37 pm

awww camille’s would be a great fit in my opinion. there was one in the lobby of my building in chicago, little expensive for my tastes for what you get, but still it would be a great fit for the short north i think.
Ndcent February 15, 2007 8:54 am

Walker wrote I’ve been in the Cup O’ Joe a few times though because they resell Jeni’s Ice Cream and it’s much closer for me than a trek to the North Market.

Walker – you and Anne need a scooter!!
Walker February 15, 2007 8:59 am

Ndcent wrote Walker – you and Anne need a scooter!!

Haha… we’ve talked about getting one, but it wouldn’t do us much good at the moment. :?
Ndcent February 15, 2007 9:42 am

I’ll be buying one soon. Probably a Honda Metropolitan for about a thousand bucks, rather than a Vespa for $4799.
Brewmaster February 15, 2007 10:06 am

Ndcent wrote I’ll be buying one soon. Probably a Honda Metropolitan for about a thousand bucks, rather than a Vespa for $4799.

Be sure to check out The Buddy from Genuine Scooters. They’ve all got continuously variable transmissions and 125cc engines for around $2500 or 50cc for under $2k. They’ve got them at the scooter place on High st. just north of campus.
dKilla February 15, 2007 10:25 am

Coremodels wrote Well, I actually agree that their coffee is a little burnt/bitter…but amazingly, I think Cup O Joe is even more so! Truth be told, 9 times outta 10 I’d rather roll through McD’s and get my coffee in the morning.

Dunkin’ Donuts still has the absolute best coffee of any retail chain on this planet. Unfortunately the only one I know of in the area is in Gahanna….I just moved to Dublin so it’s a bit out of the way.

If your a coffee drinker and enjoy a good ole cup of regular coffee, (no mocha or carmel or chai or any of that other foofy crap) stop by and grab a cup next time your out that way. They add the cream and sugar for you…they use a sugar syrup instead of granuals(sp?). I’d suggest double cream, double sugar in a large cup of cofee. You won’t be dissapointed. :wink:
honavery February 15, 2007 10:30 am

Walker – you and Anne need a scooter!!

Or a segway. That would be sweet.

I’m dating a girl who is originally from New England and she also swears by Dunkin Donuts coffee. There is one on 161 too, fyi.
dKilla February 15, 2007 10:46 am

Yea…I grew up in Maryland/Delaware area…they are all over the place there and it’s well known that they have the absolute best coffee of all time. When I lived in ATL and worked the nightshift I was excstatic when they built one right nextdoor to our office building…nearly every break was spent going over to grab a cup.

Just FYI…it’s all about the sugar. If you get their “Box o’ Joe” (the ever-popular office treat, box of cofee) you will get typical sugar packets and creamer….the flavor doesn’t even begin to approach that of the liquified sweetening goodness that you get when they add the sugar at the shop.
dKilla February 15, 2007 10:47 am

ecstatic….not excstatic…lol!

typing is hard.
Ndcent February 15, 2007 10:59 am

Brewmaster wrote

Ndcent wrote I’ll be buying one soon. Probably a Honda Metropolitan for about a thousand bucks, rather than a Vespa for $4799.

Be sure to check out The Buddy from Genuine Scooters. They’ve all got continuously variable transmissions and 125cc engines for around $2500 or 50cc for under $2k. They’ve got them at the scooter place on High st. just north of campus.

Thanks for the info…I really like those Stella scoots too. I’m just after the Metropolitan for it’s cheapness and it’s a Honda and I love Honda two wheelers.
vespamary February 19, 2007 2:06 pm

I know I’m late to this thread, but I’ve gotta comment. A vintage scooter will run you about half what a new Vespa will. But you get triple “style points” for a vintage scooter. I’ll let the Stella pass as it’s based on the vintage Vespa body AND since they’ve been discontinued they hereby qualify as “new vintage,” but I don’t know what that will do for the parts market. A vintage doesn’t have a battery that will die on you regularly. If you want a great vintage scooter, call Joe Casola of Saints Cycleworks who’s restoring two classics and selling then for $1800 each. He’s also the best scooter wrench in town. He’s got them listed on the Scooter Forum:

[url]http://p097.ezboard.com/fcolumbuscuttersfrm2.showMessage?topicID=177.topic[/url]
Anne February 19, 2007 2:17 pm

now I want one so bad! :)
Ndcent February 19, 2007 2:22 pm

Thanks for the link.

I agree with you about the vintage scoots, but as my purpose for the scooter isn’t about about style but rather about affordability and utility, I’m still leaning torwards the Metropolitan…or maybe even a Yamaha Vino?

http://web.mit.edu/scz/www/img/vino.jpg
brandonphoto February 19, 2007 6:45 pm

I’m drooling over a Vespa or a Stella, one of these days!
brandonphoto February 19, 2007 7:07 pm

honavery wrote

Walker – you and Anne need a scooter!!

Or a segway. That would be sweet.

I’m dating a girl who is originally from New England and she also swears by Dunkin Donuts coffee. There is one on 161 too, fyi.

I agree with your girlfriend, Honavery, Dunkin has great coffee. Maybe I can open a Dunkin Donuts franchise in the Short North, anyone with me? :lol:
dru February 19, 2007 7:52 pm

brandonphoto wrote

honavery wrote

Walker – you and Anne need a scooter!!

Or a segway. That would be sweet.

I’m dating a girl who is originally from New England and she also swears by Dunkin Donuts coffee. There is one on 161 too, fyi.

I agree with your girlfriend, Honavery, Dunkin has great coffee. Maybe I can open a Dunkin Donuts franchise in the Short North, anyone with me? :lol:

a.) I want a stella, piaggio or vespa in the worst way. If some home repairs don’t kill the budget, one will be mine this summer

b.) as for a DD in the SN, I say take over the unsightly UDF and convert it
Ndcent February 20, 2007 8:53 am

dru wrote b.) as for a DD in the SN, I say take over the unsightly UDF and convert it

Whahhaa!? As unsighlty as it may we need that little slice of carry out convenience in the short north.