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# Starbucks and sarcasm are alive and well in Santa Monica
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/starbucks-and-sarcasm-are-alive-and-well-in-santa-monica/
- Published: 2003-01-31T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T01:26:52.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Promenade, #archive-import

*Q-LINE from page 3*

This past week, Q-Line asked, “Do you think the Promenade needs another Starbucks? Why or why not?”

Here are your responses: ■ “I was a former barista who worked on the Promenade and also worked at one of four Starbucks that were all in the same two-block radius of each other downtown. I can honestly state that your average coffee patron does not care where they get their coffee from. When they come in, they assume all the sizes and names are the same. As far as how it effects the Promenade, the only thing I can see is that it might provide some much needed jobs for those who cannot find work elsewhere.” ■ “I do not believe this Promenade needs another Starbucks because 12 coffee houses are enough. Starbucks is way too much of a corporation. I don’t even go to the Promenade anymore because it’s not even a Promenade. Santa Monica lost its soul about 15 years ago to developers. I regret going to Santa Monica when I do go. Another Starbucks would even keep me away. No more Starbucks in Santa Monica or anywhere in Southern California.” ■ “YES! The more Starbucks, the better! Young yuppies will need a place to sit until their unemployment checks run out while wondering who fired the salvo that torpedoed them from their job sites and caused their BMWs to be repossessed. After all, George Jr. is their guy.” ■ “Not only do we not need more Starbucks, we need less. There are too many of them already. They are like a cancer that spreads around in this city destroying everything in its path.” ■ “I absolutely think we need another Starbucks on the Third Street Promenade. Right now, I have to walk almost 30 yards to get a latte. I can stop at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, which is about 15 yards closer to my office. What is a person supposed to go through to get a cup of coffee? I think they should do the right thing and put three Starbucks on every block.” ■ “Give me a break. Another Starbucks is the last thing we need on the Promenade. More and more people are consuming an over abundance of java. I’ve been advised by a friend that the increase in breast thyroids in women could be a direct result of our societies love affair with coffee drinks. Her medical doctor advised her to taper her intake and especially with Starbucks. Something about Starbucks’ processing method may be contributing to this worsening health issue. No more Starbucks in our city.” ■ “Starbucks is a company that does not know when to stop. Two Starbucks on the Third Street Promenade is more than sufficient. Not only will a third store contribute to a boring, nothing-new-here environment, it may also take space from an interesting one of a kind retailer. Starbucks, know when enough is enough.” ■ “Now that the Promenade attracts so many vagrants and high decibel street performers, it’s possible that there is a problem finding tenants for the retail space. If Starbucks are willing to risk a third shop there, I wish them well.” ■ “I’m absolutely opposed the Promenade needing another Starbucks. I’m sick and tired of the franchises pushing the mom and pop stores out of Santa Monica. It’s horrifying on the Promenade that this has already happened. I’m dreading the day it happens on Montana. Even Montana has 2 Starbucks now.” ■ “I don’t think the problem with Starbucks is the number or density of their stores. I think what they lost sight of years ago was they had a Disney-like employee policy: no piercing, no tattoos. They had to give that up along with customer service and the ability to make gourmet coffee because the work pool is so watered down. I don’t think the problem is that there are three right next to each other, I think that there is a thousand too many Starbucks for the qualified employees that they can hire.” ■ “I agree that it is obnoxious to see a Starbucks on practically every corner. But I’m a natural night owl that has to get up early in the morning to be a teacher and nothing, nothing gets me going like a Starbucks coffee. The people that work there are nice, too.” ■ “Santa Monica absolutely needs more Starbucks. There are several blocks on the Promenade that are not fully covered with coffee dispensing establishments. Until there is a coffee delivering mechanism whereby people can have coffee delivered directly to their blood stream, I think it is imperative that Santa Monica has more coffee serving establishments. Especially Starbucks!” ■ “The Promenade does not need anymore Starbucks. If we are not careful, all of the J Crews, Banana Republics and Gaps are going to be squeezed out as well as the upcoming Benetton. That would be a real tragedy to loose those stores for more coffee.” ■ “I’m calling on behalf of Homeowners for Voluntary Coffee Shops. For too long, the City of Santa Monica has been able to designate your shop a coffee shop without your own permission. I think that is a terrible infringement on personal and property rights. I think it’s high time you are only forced to have a coffee shop if you truly want one, or a coffee shop district if every single shop in that district that wanted to become a coffee shop.” ■ “Hi. I am having a problem. I was hoping you could help me out. I’m meeting my massage therapist at the Starbucks on the Promenade. There are so many Starbucks, I’m not sure which one it is?” ■ “Starbucks sell fair trade certified beans at 2,300 of its outlets, but they don’t sell it as the coffee that they brew for customers. I believe in organic shade grown coffee beans and if they are not going to furnish it to the public and all of their stores I am going to boycott Starbucks. What they are doing is preventing diversity in rain forests. It’s not good for the environment.” ■ “Well, no, of course, the Promenade does not need another Starbucks. Or I should say, the people that use the Promenade don’t need another Starbucks. We are going to get one because the market is totally indifferent.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 31, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/013103.pdf?ref=smdp.com)