Slog - Comments on Always Be Closing

Comment by Scott Kennedy

Scott Kennedy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:43:55 -0800

http://www.leftbanker.com/uploaded_images/Simpsons-Nelson-Haha-715091.jpg

Comment by Dingo Rossi

Dingo Rossi — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:45:18 -0800

Not a big surprise, no one goes to the Starbucks at 23rd and Madison. It's one of those half-assed supermarket Starbucks.

Comment by DOUG.

DOUG. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:46:42 -0800

That store at 45th and Stone lasted for, what, six months? Maybe they can get some more creative tenants in that new development rather than another Starbucks, frame store, tanning shop and smoothie stand.

Comment by Allie Luyah

Allie Luyah — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:47:23 -0800

Thankfully all three of the Starbucks in my office building (City Centre) are safe so I can continue to ignore them and go to Monorail Espresso.

Comment by Grant Cogswell

Grant Cogswell — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:54:41 -0800

The one on 15th, if I'm not wrong, was store #2 and opened in 1975. While we're talking Starbucks (your only hangout option in most of the suburban US) what is up with those ridiculously uncomfortable plastic wicker chairs? Maybe taking the trash can lid off and sitting in there would be more comfortable, seriously.

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:58:38 -0800

There's a Starbucks on 15th?

Comment by Jeff Stevens

Jeff Stevens — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:02:38 -0800

Good riddance to the 23rd and Madison store, the erstwhile wedge of gentrification in the CD circa 2001. If I recall properly, Catfish Corner was all set to move into that location until St*****ks muscled them out.

Ah, poetic justice...

Comment by John

John — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:10:09 -0800

@6... Yep, it's right next to Smith.

Comment by danielbennettkieneker

danielbennettkieneker — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:12:14 -0800

Does that mean that my free clothing bank Starbucks shirt is now 'not cool' to wear?

.... because I'm as homeless as those Starbuckers and what about the customers who remember policemen threatening them for various reasons

because they were pissed off they couldn't bust them with echoes of

"narco polo" "narco polo" " come out come out where ever you are... "

...as they walked away so stoned, so stoned when they/he/she didn't have pot on him/her/ us?

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:29:31 -0800

Dang, that one at 45th and Stone has not only barely been open, but it's actually got a rather pleasant-looking outdoor patio in in area that needs more sidewalk seating. I've never been, but I've been considering it, just to break the heat (I work nearby).

Now, presumably, it will lie vacant, and fill with sleeping homeless people and/or mean dogs tied with string.

Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball

Jubilation T. Cornball — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:34:41 -0800

@3, the frame store -- Museum Quality Framing -- is run by a very nice artist fellow and he and his staff provide excellent customer service and, ummm, museum quality products.

Most if not all of The Cornball Collection items purchased in Seattle and Berlin have been framed there, to my high satisfaction.

Just sayin'.

Comment by Non

Non — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:35:31 -0800

Fnarf that one on Stone has/had such a good setup. There were the real full-back leather chairs separated by a wall from the bar. Very cool layout.

Chickitout before it closes

Comment by elswinger

elswinger — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:41:03 -0800

They were just about to open up the Starbucks on Stone Way when I went into the hospital (where I am still trapped). Since I won't be moving back there I don't care so much, but when I did live there I was hoping for more than a tanning salon, a cellphone store, and a Jamba Juice.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:41:32 -0800

Those were pretty underused.

But I agree the Stone Way one has a nice layout.

Comment by giantladysquirrels

giantladysquirrels — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:26:33 -0800

I knew it was a bad idea to open a Starbucks in my red-statey hometown of Danville, IL. Not at all surprised to see it on the list.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:33:52 -0800

Hey, elswinger, get out of that hospital soon, OK? Whatever's wrong, and I'm not asking, but don't get well soon -- get well now.

Comment by hal

hal — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:22:24 -0800

I'm not surprised about the two San Francisco stores. The Metreon one is a cart basically, one of those blink and you'll miss it places, and the Market street location is just off Market and is a hole in the wall.

Comment by Monty

Monty — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:39:10 -0800

Oh, not "Northgate Mall II"! You mean Northgate Mall will only have ONE Starbucks? Curse you, recession!

Comment by -J.

-J. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:05:54 -0800

The power of Google Maps, kids. The store closing on 15th is in the one inside Safeway.

Comment by Why Stone

Why Stone — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:14:53 -0800

The Stone Way and 45th was always busy when I went. It is the closest to my house, and they have a great patio.

Comment by rb

rb — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:26:04 -0800

It's too bad for the loss of low-paying jobs, but I'm glad that Starbucks is shrinking. It is banal and evil. I still have every bit of empathy for those that might lose their source of gainful employment. I've been there. But the cancer that is Starbucks? No.

And @13, what Fnarf said. I don't know you, but know hospitals, and wish you freedom from your entrapment.

Comment by girlgerms

girlgerms — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:43:47 -0800

@19, I just google mapped it and it says it's NOT the one in Safeway...

I've walked by that address hundreds of times and I never realized there was a Starbucks on 15th. They just kinda fade into the background.

Comment by jmr

jmr — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:57:07 -0800

UPDATE: I forgot one:

Forgot the West Seattle one, it figures.

(This one has also been open only a few months, and shares a parking lot with an in-Safeway Starbucks.)

Comment by Glenn Fleishman

Glenn Fleishman — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:15:31 -0800

Fortunately, U Village will continue to have 2 outlets within several hundred feet of one another, as well as the mezzanine in Barnes and Noble, which is Starbucks-branded by not owned by Starbucks. Phew!

Although I have been told by *$'s employees that the big location in U Village is their top-grossing US outlet.

Comment by JenK

JenK — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:24:32 -0800

None are closing on the Eastside? Wonder how that happened.

Comment by Adrock

Adrock — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:02:05 -0800

I worked at the Denny and Aurora one and I remember a rush of ten people and then dead silence for the rest of the 6 hours. It's in a Shell station in a horrible location, good riddance.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:11:28 -0800

It's all the students - that's why the U Village one does so well.

Comment by Silverstar98121

Silverstar98121 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:44:33 -0800

They didn't trim nearly enough fat IMHO. They should look around and close about half of those downtown, and leave some like the one at 45th and Stone Way.

The one at Denny and Aurora is already gone, we went by there the other night.

Comment by Mark in Morocco

Mark in Morocco — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:31:50 -0800

Good riddance to the 15th E Starbucks. It was too sunny to sit in the front of the store either at the tables or by the bar. Even though it was my closest Starbucks, I hardly ever went there.

Comment by john cocktosin

john cocktosin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:33:33 -0800

First prize is a new Cadillac. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize, you're fucking fired.