Starbucks closing decaffeinates Grandview klatch, Pub. 7.28.2008, TV News

 By: DONAVON CAMPBELL

Grandview-area residents Dave Apathy, Wesley Hereford and Pat Cavney sat outside the Starbucks Coffee at 1505 W. Fifth Ave. last week, joking about whether the building would become a White Castle, funeral home or perhaps another pharmacy.

The coffee shop, one of two Starbucks shops within a few blocks of each other along the stretch of Fifth Avenue just north of Grandview, has been selected as one of 600 stores nationwide the company will shut down.

Its last day of business was Saturday, July 27. The store opened in April 2001.

“In January, Starbucks committed to transforming the company through a series of initiatives that would improve the current state of our U.S. business,” said Starbucks spokesperson Mike Lenda.

“Much thought and consideration was given to each location because we know the impact this has on our partners, customers and the communities where we operate.”

For Apathy, who has been been coming to the coffee shop for almost four years, it is not a happy time, though he said he understands.

“I don’t think anybody is happy about it,” said Apathy, “but Starbucks does what it has to do.”

In today’s economy, the news of a company the size of Starbucks — with 7,087 stores in the United States alone as of February 2008 — closing around a tenth of its stores may not seem such a surprise.

Cavney, too, said he understands the company’s dilemma.

“It’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Cavney. “They just had too many stores.”

Still, to guys such as Apathy, Cavney and Hereford, who form part of a fairly consistent, if not impromptu, group of regulars who get together almost daily at the location to shoot the breeze, the closing of this particular store is a real drag.

Hereford, who has frequented the same building since it was a Friendly’s 30 years ago, said he will miss the staff.

“(The manager) was just such a very, very wonderful person,” said Hereford, “and he hired dedicated people.”

The store was known for hiring Ohio State University students, and they made for polite, considerate, knowledgeable staff members and good conversation, Apathy said.

“They had the nicest people,” said Apathy. “We enjoyed talking to them.”

Staff members said they were unable to comment on the store closing, but most of them will be relocated to stores around the area.

There are some who are not quite as bummed out by the closing.

Maurice Robinson, a manager at a nearby Caribou Coffee, 1425 Grandview Ave., knows the Starbucks regulars and said he hopes to see more of them at his store.

“We’re definitely hoping to pick up some more business from (Starbucks),” said Robinson.

Coffee drinkers are spread out among many shops in the area, though, so one store’s closing probably won’t shake things up too drastically, Robinson said.

Hereford said he knows there is more good coffee to be had in the area — it’s just that Starbucks happened to be his favorite place to get it.

“There are two categories of coffeehouses: the one on Fifth and Broadview and all the others,” Hereford said. “I love them all, but this was No. 1.”

Hereford said he visited the store the day it opened and he had planned to visit it again on the day closed.

“They always close my favorite places,” Hereford quipped. “I’m thinking if I’m lucky enough to go to heaven, they’ll close that, too.”

Still, most of the regulars admit they will more than likely find another place to converse among the many coffee shops in the area.

Apathy, searching for a silver lining, even went as far as to suggest that perhaps this could help him cut down on caffeine.

“This was a regular place” to have coffee and talk with friends, said Apathy. “I may have to break my (caffeine) habit.”