Hmm. My one concern is that Starbucks does seem to try to be as predatory as possible. I sometimes worry that sooner or later they will figure out a way to hurt the competition. That said, you can't throw a stone in this city without hitting a mom and pop coffee shop and each one is different and awesome for their own way. Of course my favorite one is the one that hosts cars and coffee, but others have real good baked goods, wine, live music, whatever. There's a lot of variety, and it's nice to know whatever major neighborhood you go to, there's a good chance you'll find an independent coffee shop.
Sure - but there was a time when all you could buy was Budweiser, Miller, Coors, Schlitz and Hamm's (I need to find that article, too). Starbuck's exists for the same reason - it's the coffee that's always about right. But fuckin' A if it weren't for Starbuck's there'd be no Caribou Coffee (better), Coffee Bean (better), Tully's (better and owned outright by Starbucks!) or the million and one independent shops. When I was growing up there was nowhere to get a cup of coffee except the gas station. But by the time I was in 10th grade there was a little cafe and by the time I was a sophomore in college there was a bloody Starbuck's and by the time I graduated there were eight cafes in my home town of 20,000 people.
Nope, Tully's is owned outright by Keurig Green Mountain.
My bad. You're right. Starbuck's owns SBC which has always been shit.