Starbucks is not the only chain to expand around here. Blue Bottle opened on Wednesday at 101 University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street.
As Eater reported back in June, the San Francisco-based coffee chain "is on an East Coast expansion tear," with six new locations set to open across the city — making for a grand total of 15 stores in NYC alone.
This Blue Bottle, housed in the former Andrade Shoe Repair, is between the incoming Sweetgreen and the News Bar Cafe.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than Starbucks. I love Blue Bottle.
ReplyDeleteThe invasion continues.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually between 12th and 13th streets...
ReplyDeleteThank you. I fixed the cross streets.
ReplyDeleteI don't need anywhere but Joe's on 13th
ReplyDeleteThis is for 1:44 a.m : Starbucks does take care of its employees. It isn't bullshit. Or a myth. They actually take better care of their employees with higher wages and benefits than many of the competition due to their ample resources. It's just a fact. Smaller destinations, as much as they are beloved and necessary for our community to thrive, often fail to address many of the immediate needs of their staff, especially when they are faced with exorbitant overhead such as insurance, product costs, rent, and so forth. Starbucks isn't the enemy. Consumerism and globalism as a whole are. Our society is much different than it was ten years ago. And let's face it, toward the end of each day, in any operation, it has and will always come down to revenue. Instead of assigning blame, perhaps we should learn to rise above our obstinate misgivings, and adapt to our environment in spite of our inherent anger.
ReplyDeleteOn a positive note, my west coast peeps say wonderful things about Blue Bottle. Many have said the quality is outstanding. I will certainly visit and buy their products out over the weekend. This won't negate my patronage to Starbuck's either. I can frequent both and many of the other cafes around us :)
Hey 11:48am, 1:44am back here. I didn't say Starbucks doesn't take care of its employees, I said spare me the talk about how they do which is bullshit because they should take care of their employees for the billions they rake in annually, and you know I meant that.
ReplyDeleteStarbucks is the enemy because they want to monopolize and homogenize. Right, independent places by and large can't offer what Starbucks can but guess what? They were never opened to provide long-term careers for adults and guess what again? Neither was Starbucks. Whoever is over 30 and working full-time in an indy coffeeshop or a Starbucks has some favorable living situation thankfully e.g. they live at home with their parents rent-free or for a nominal sum of rent, their spouse or significant other makes double or more what they make, they live in a rent controlled or stabilized place, they pay a low rent share etc.
Starbucks is the epitome of consumerism and globalism. They would like nothing more than to be the only place that serves coffee and be on every major corner of every maior city. They are nothing more than the new McDonald's. They are anathema to culture and individuality.
Adapt to Starbucks...spoken like a true millenial. Here's an idea for you: you patronize Starbucks and I'll patronize everywhere else because I support individualism unlike you, groupthinker who thinks all of us should bow to The Maiden because she pays well as she should (again my point you missed.) What happens when Starbucks falters, fades etc? What then?
Starbucks is also for people too lazy and/or stupid to make their own coffee and either don't know how to manage their money or don't care that they are blowing literally thousands of dollars a year on what they could make themselves.
IF YOU READ THIS, then you care about the neighborhood. Do not patronize this chain coffee outlet. Blue Bottle opened right next to a beloved, old style coffee bar, News Bar Cafe. It replaced a shoe repair shop that provided a real service.
ReplyDeleteIf you want coffee, go to News Bar or Joe's down 13th St, but DO NOT GO to Blue Bottle. Pass it on.
We tried Blue Bottle in LA and Venice recently, and both times the coffee was excellent. I'm not convinced they are evil simply because they are a small chain. I'm more concerned with the endless independent purveyors of alcohol in our neighborhood, whose economic interests are in opposition to my quality of life interests.
ReplyDeleteThis is for 9:09 AM, who responded to my initial comment at 11:48:
ReplyDeleteActually, I am not a millennial. I am an independent and self sufficient 42 year old man, who views himself as a kind, logical and well balanced guy. Your words seem to evoke anger and disdain. Instead of lamenting your rage toward me on this thread, why don't you work in local politics or government if you are so passionate about this virtuous plight? Perhaps focus on small business ventures within the communities of Manhattan by curtailing the advent of as you put it, "Modern McDonalds" from their subsequent emergence in our neighborhoods?
You also failed to understand, as I mentioned, that I would in fact, patronize both smaller cafes and larger chains to bolster support. I am not going to further entertain you or anyone else with a diatribe, which will take neither of us anywhere. I choose to be positive and optimistic. My motto is live and let live. Again, if you don't like Starbucks, don't go. It's easy. Just walk away from them.
And on a side note, I did patronize Blue Bottle over the weekend, which incidentally offers a delicious product in a beautiful store. The staff were pleasant and professional too. I plan on visiting soon when I am in the area for appointments. I wish them and you the very best. Have a great day!
This place rocks. Love them. F Starbucks...
ReplyDeleteYeah you're real "individual" when you're telling people to adapt like we have to when we don't. Adapt to what? Being a sheep who flocks to Starbucks? Not me. Self-sufficent - your point saying that? 42 years old going on 22 from what I read. I bet you're 27 or around then. I have anger, disdain, and rage? Please. Stop sounding like a typical millenial snowflake who plays armchair psychologist when GASP! he/she is not agreed with. I can vehemently disagree, ok?
ReplyDeleteI don't have to get into "politics" but you're more than welcome to apply for Starbucks/Blue Bottle Apologist - I hear they're hiring (since you like to tell me what to do with my time.) All I have to and really can do is (continue to) boycott these chain businesses. You could do the same but you're too busy being a spineless mamby pamby who won't take a stand.
When you patronize Starbucks and Blue Bottle you are hurting independent coffee shops, period, end of story case closed.