Starbucks closing in Rosemary?

The other night at Stinky Cheese Man, Watercourse Way showed me her blended Starbucks drink - "OMB" was written on the side of the cup. Of course we laughed.

(orange mango banana)

Grande Diet Mocha Frappachino?

Close...Grande Decaf Mocha Frappuchino!

I doubt that we will see other local coffee shops be able to make a successful run in those high rent locations if Starbucks cannot do it using massive economies of scale and negotiating power. It could happen, but on paper, it doesn't make logical sense.

I highly recommend Amavida Coffee in Seaside and Seagrove. They have their own Coffee Bean Roaster on staff, making some excellent coffee. PJ's also has some good coffee in Blue Mtn Beach, but it feels more corporate in atmosphere.

I doubt that we will see other local coffee shops be able to make a successful run in those high rent locations if Starbucks cannot do it using massive economies of scale and negotiating power. It could happen, but on paper, it doesn't make logical sense.

I highly recommend Amavida Coffee in Seaside and Seagrove. They have their own Coffee Bean Roaster on staff, making some excellent coffee. PJ's also has some good coffee in Blue Mtn Beach, but it feels more corporate in atmosphere.

The three Tampa locations that are closing are all locations that didn't make any sense in the first place. You would think that a resort area like 30-A would be Starbucks heaven, so the fact that it was "underperforming" even with all the lines seems very strange. Perhaps an independent could swoop in, purchase the equipment at a good price, and do well not having to send the profits to corporate? I hope if someone does swoop in they draw up a great business plan first.

The other thought I had was, what if the corporate folks don't understand the nature of 30-A, and saw low numbers during the winter and decided to close it down? You can kind of see how that might happen.

Might the rents come down a little bit? At some points the rents can't be sooo high that businesses can't make it. I had heard in the original plan that spot was targeted to be a coffee shop -- and it's clearly desired by the poeople. But it will be hard for someone without deep pockets to manage the revenue swings (season/off season). If Starbucks can't make it. . . . .can anyone?

Rents around here are as high as San Fransisco, but without the population numbers from which to draw. Look at the number of empty commercial places around here and you will quickly see that rents are too high for most small businesses to give it a whirl. WaterColor Crossing stores remained empty for a long time. With the purchase costs and high price for insurance, rents will remain somewhat high for most commercial units. The Rosemary and WaterColor SB locations are pretty high visibility with somewhat captured audiences, and I would think that both developments will make the rents whatever they need to be in order to get the right business move in. These developments are more unique than many commercial spots, because they may be able to write off some of the costs as community benefits, not trying to make profit on those rents, but offering services and benefits for the owners and guests. The developments will still likely get part of net or gross proceeds. No buyer wants to drive through a major development like RB or WC and see empty, closed stores. They want it to be a happening spot.

It's gotta be the rent, not a single PC/PCB location is closing and some of those go all day without someone coming in. Oh well, that leaves us with Miss Lucille's, My Daddy's Cheescake, Hibiscus, Amavida 2 locations, Fonville press, and Wild Olives. All local and all better than starbucks anyway.

It's gotta be the rent, not a single PC/PCB location is closing and some of those go all day without someone coming in. Oh well, that leaves us with Miss Lucille's, My Daddy's Cheescake, Hibiscus, Amavida 2 locations, Fonville press, and Wild Olives. All local and all better than starbucks anyway.

Don't forget The Coffee House in Watercolor Crossings as well.

Don't forget The Coffee House in Watercolor Crossings as well.

I heard they have a decent sandwich also, I hope they survive there.

Anyone know what the rent is in WaterColor Crossing?

I heard they have a decent sandwich also, I hope they survive there.

Anyone know what the rent is in WaterColor Crossing?

I had heard last week that they were closing. Is this true?

yes...both this one and Rosemary Beach

Starbucks Rosemary Beach and Seagrove to Close

The Starbucks at Rosemary Beach as well as the one in Seagrove are on the list of 616 Starbucks locations to close by early 2009. See this article from cnn.com which also includes an interactive map: http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/18/news/companies/starbucks_closures/index.htm?cnn=yes

corporate coffee sucks! sorry for those that will lose their jobs...but the walmart of coffee shops (STARSUCKS) doesn't belong here...good riddance...trendy and tasteless, IMO

Let us remember that Starbucks has provided jobs and benefits to our friends and neighbors. More business closings in SoWal is not a good thing, no matter what you think of the business.

I will miss sitting out in those big chairs on those warm winter nights at Watercolor.

I had heard last week that they were closing. Is this true?

I'm quoting myself because I meant the little coffee shop at Watercolor Crossing. I heard it wasn't going to make it, either.

The Starbucks at Rosemary Beach as well as the one in Seagrove are on the list of 616 Starbucks locations to close by early 2009. See this article from cnn.com which also includes an interactive map: http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/18/news/companies/starbucks_closures/index.htm?cnn=yes

I saw a bunch in GA, but none in Athens. I wish they'd close the one they set up on Broad St. next to all the other independents.

I'm quoting myself because I meant the little coffee shop at Watercolor Crossing. I heard it wasn't going to make it, either.

I'm not sure about them. They have cut way back on their hours.

I like Starbucks but I love Amavida as well...especially when Little Amavida educates me on the merits of fair trade coffee! On the mornings I went there, she would come in the classroom, check out my coffee cup and tell her friends, "Yeah...she was at Amavida this morning." Too cute.

We agree a local company may have difficulty moving into these locations and make it work with the rents they are asking. We are not closing. We simply found that the majority of our business is morning through lunchtime and evenings aren't worth staying open for. If you are going to be a displaced "Bucks" Customer, please come try The Coffee House. We are located at Watercolor Crossing (next to publix) and have all your favorite coffee and espresso beverages. David goes in every morning and bakes our muffins, scones, cookies, biscuits, and croissants. Our breakfast sandwiches are fantastic and we also have a full line of made to order deli sandwiches and paninis made with Boars Head meats. Our coffee and espresso comes direct from Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Company in St. Louis and we are sure you'll love it!

breakfast sandwiches???...
I didn't know...

we'll be by soon!

I can say from experience that you have to sell a LOT of cups of coffee to make a coffee shop work. All of the local Starbucks seemed to always have customers, but they also had corporate funding (maybe not so good funding). We should do our best to patronize all the locally owned businesses we can. Its not easy to survive in our paradise, but supporting big, national corporate businesses sends most of our money away (except, of course, money earned by the hard working employees). That said, my wife and kids will miss the WaterColor Starbucks too.

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/starbucks_1859___article.html/watercolor_beach.html


Starbucks at Rosemary Beach and Watercolor scheduled to close after Labor Day


Taking a morning walk down to the local Starbucks will no longer be an option for residents of Rosemary Beach and Watercolor. The two Starbucks locations are scheduled to close as part of the nationwide downsizing of 600 stores by the company.
They are scheduled to close some time after Labor Day, although no firm date is set, according to Quinn Petterson, an employee at the Watercolor location.
"I'm disappointed," said Petterson, who has worked at the location for nine months.
"It (Starbucks) has changed my life. I moved here not knowing anyone but after working here, now I know my community."
Customers at the Watercolor location had mixed feelings about the decision.
"They're going to close this one down? Will it be before the end of our vacation," asked customer Becky Iliya.
Becky and Charlie Iliya admitted they went to the coffee shop every morning of their vacation, however they were not surprised the location was closing.
"It's hard to make a dollar here with all of the fees," said Becky.
"A locally owned coffee shop would have a better feel than the commercial Starbucks setting," Charlie said. "There's just too many of them," he continued. "They did it to themselves."
Becky also said they expanded too quickly but felt they were a good employer.
The Iliyas are visiting from Dallas "where a Starbucks is on every corner," they said.
Another customer, Joel Drummond, was surprised to learn the store would be shut down. "Are they really going to close this one down," he asked.
"We're from Jackson (Mississippi) and they are closing two or three of them there, too. There are four now and they just got them a couple of years ago," Drummond said.
While the Rosemary Beach and Watercolor branches face closure, the Grayton Beach location is anticipating a boost in business.
Manager Johnny Shine said it will "absolutely" increase business once the other locations are closed. "This store has dropped in revenue since they (Rosemary Beach and Watercolor branches) opened."
The Starbucks in Grayton Beach will not be affected by the nationwide closures since it is licensed and owned by Sandestin, according to Manager Johnny Shine.
Shine was not sure if Starbucks was offering transfers for employees to other locations but said if they came to his store he would put as many of them to work as possible.

hmmmm, our son (Sr. @ S. Walton) works at the Rosemary store. (loves it by the way) He's helped out at Watercolor and Pier Park, too. Starbucks told him he could stay with the co. but would probably go to either Destin or Panama City. With the price of gas, he wasn't thrilled with that idea. One of the local Rosemary cafe's offered him a job so he needs to make a decision.
At any rate, it seems Starbucks is offering to keep any employees that want to stay and are willing to travel.
We're explaining to Mike that WHEN he goes away to college there will probably be a Starbucks close by and would welcome his experience. He likes the campus at Northwest University but you can't surf on Lake Michigan so why would he leave?
if I knew then what I know now...and could convince him... ;-)

From what I've read, Starbucks is a great employer. As a designer I've envied the creative freedom they give their staff (and the free coffee to fuel on), they've always put a lot of attention on their branding. I've heard they're good to about all of their employees, not to mention working on the fair-trade issues. I still prefer a nice mom and pop operation though, but like that Starbucks made coffee houses mainstream. I will still go to one, if its the only place to get my fix. I wonder if the Grayton Starbucks will expand somehow? That is the world's smallest Starbucks I think