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Tacoma Urbanist

Jul. 17, 2008 at 5:32pm

Downtown Tacoma Starbucks Axed in R. Pacific Building



(Image link)

Starbucks announced they are closing 600 stores.  Looks like downtown Tacoma lost one:


Starbucks has released a list of some 600 U.S. stores slated to close. I count one in Tacoma - downtown in the Rainier Pacific Bank Building – and 18 others in the state.

Interestingly, that's the one right by the Tacoma Convention Center.

Here's closing list Starbucks has issued.


comments [9]  |  posted under tacoma
Comments

by escaping slave
on 7/17/2008 @ 5:45pm
Starbucks, shmarbucks!

Maybe it will pave the way for local people to set up their own small coffee shops, like Satellite Coffee and Cavanaugh's, and give real customer service to their customers/neighbors. Capitalism is great, but it needs a free market to work right, and Starbucks was a forced market (i.e., by showing interest in buildings/property, the owners jacked up the rates and mom/pop businesses were thrown out).

As a non-coffee drinker I really don't care, but in these "hard" times, I wonder how many people are having to cut back their daily caffeine spending so they can get their essentials.

I'm looking forward to tanning places closing. How essential is that? There's no vitamin D coming from those bulbs, so just go out in the sun and limit your exposure. It's free after all.

by Erik
on 7/17/2008 @ 5:48pm
Here is the Starbucks in the Ranier Pacific Building that looks to be set to close.



www.starbuckseverywhere.net/Tacoma.htm

by Rue
on 7/17/2008 @ 8:56pm
Saw that one coming...

by ensie
on 7/17/2008 @ 9:01pm
That will be a blow to the Convention Center. People who are visitors want familiarity in a city that they don't know, and Starbucks is just that. While I won't be sorry to see it go, it's one more thing that people won't like about coming here for conferences.

by BellCaptain
on 7/17/2008 @ 11:48pm
This location can be "re-opened ASAP" by a local name as has been suggested. My staff and I send a TON of visitors to that address so contact the right people and get the sign changed ASAP.

Bell Capt.

by Crenshaw Sepulveda
on 7/18/2008 @ 12:53am
This is the canary in the coal mine. If a ton of people were being sent to this 'bucks I'd imagine they'd stay in business. I wonder what the rent is on this location? Maybe another smoothie operation can move in, that or maybe a Kinkos, yeah a Kinkos, that's the ticket. Better yet another fancy restaurant with "grill" in the name, don't have enough of them.

by Crenshaw Sepulveda
on 7/18/2008 @ 1:05am
my favorite 'bucks can be found at:

home.flash.net/~ral1/starbucks/bigimages...

by izenmania
on 7/18/2008 @ 9:06am
It really is a crap location. Look what it's got to feed it:

UWT? Has its own Starbucks (plus a CP and two indie shops).

Financial/Theatre District? Has it's own Starbucks and a couple Tullys.

Convention Center? Just doesn't get used enough to support any business on its own.

It's wedged between two heavy-use areas that don't need it, but in a building that seems, without too close a look, like it ought to be a good spot and therefore probably has high rent.

by AP
on 7/18/2008 @ 12:21pm
Death to all Starbucks. Good riddance.

Go Trailblazers!
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A ongoing conversation to make Tacoma a better to live and work through better urban design.

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-Erik B.

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