By NORA SORENA CASEY Special to the Daily Press
MONTANA AVE The nationwide closing of over 600 Starbucks coffee shops will impact Santa Monica and reduce the total number of the company’s stores in the city from 15 to 14.
The location at 732 Montana Ave. will close as part of the nationwide changes, leaving only two Starbucks between Seventh and Ninth streets on Montana.
Customers noted that this location was usually less crowded than others, and for that reason many preferred the store.
Jim Curley, a Santa Monica resident who has patronized the site almost every day for the past two years, said that the location had spacious indoor seating and prompt service.
“As strange as this may seem, [the closing] will have a big impact,” Curley said.“I’ll have to search for another one that’s as comfortable.”
Diane McGee said it will be easy to find another Starbucks in the area.
“There’s one right there, there’s one up the street”she said, gesturing out the window to the familiar green circular logos up and down the block.“Obviously they just made a decision to open and open and open.”
Beginning this month, the coffee giant will begin its nationwide closings. California has the greatest number of locations being slated closure. Roughly five percent of California’s 2,500 stores will close — a total of 88. Approximately 24 are in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Patron Lisa Clendenen first chose the store for purely pragmatic reasons and she felt that the loss of any individual Starbucks would not be missed.
“I don’t think it’s gonna change Santa Monica any,” she said. “But the economy is definitely in a downturn and that affects people’s lives and habits.”
Jane Walker, manager of Three Bags Full on Montana and a board member of the Montana Avenue Merchants Association,said that while the popular shopping district would certainly still have enough coffee to go around the shop helped attract customers to the street. She noted that quick services like coffee shops bring customers to the street and encourage them to walk around. It will be important for the street to bring in a new shop.
“You could go to the pharmacy, you could grab coffee,” she said.“If the cheese store was there you could go get cheese — its not open yet.”
However, Walker noted that nationally Starbucks suffers more from competition than it does here. Winchell’s and Dunkin’ Donuts are very popular competitors in other parts of the country.
“It’s just in California that people are like ‘I’m not gonna drink that,’” said Walker.
The employees at the ill-fated shop would not comment on the news due to company policy. According to Starbucks Public Relations, each store averages roughly 20 full and part time employees. Nationwide the store closing will affect about 12,000 employees. The company has stated that they will try to find company jobs for those employees whose shops close.
Curley was concerned for the Starbucks employees, as well as the necessary change that comes from business turnover.
“These places become little mini community places for the neighbors,” he said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 21, 2008. Read the original PDF.