Starbucks opens up near established
coffee houses to drive them out? Not here in
Poway, California they don't.
Instead, the management of a strip mall announces that they have elected not to renew the lease of an established coffee house.1 When pressed by the newspaper, the management admits they are in negotiations with an unnamed other company to bring in a new coffee vendor. To no one's suprise, the next occupant comes from Seattle's Other Evil Empire2. It makes you wonder how early those negotiations really began. Why block bust when you can crush the competition before the game begins?
1 The latest casualty is Mikey's, a popular spot that's open late, books some good music, and is friendly to the area kids.
2 I should qualify that... my mom does work for them, is quite happy there, and works in a location (in Northbrook) where there was no coffee house previously.