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Wow, what a shock today when I pulled into my “Home Starbucks” on Pines blvd near Douglas Road and saw a big sign on the door announcing that they were closing for ever. Today.
I felt bad when Circuit City closed, as I love technology and have spent far more time and money there then I should have over the last decade or so. But this….this was different somehow.
I believe this could have been the first Starbucks to open in the Pines, but I could be mistaken. It was certainly one of the first. We used to drive all the way to Sunrise at Cleary and Nob Hill Road to sit a spell and enjoy Starbucks. Then Flamingo near Sheridan when that opened. But we were really happy when they planted one on Pines and Douglas Road, an easy drive from our house.
We spent so much time there, reading books or newspapers, or talking to the fabulous people who worked there. I brought my laptop there often and wrote some of my blog posts there. (Never the really cranky ones). We even became familiar with other “regulars” there, like the older black gentlemen who would come in cheerful and happy every morning. They walked over from the apartments across the street I think. We greeted them like friends. We came to this Starbucks more for the people behind the counter and the regulars than the coffee.
Weekends my friend and I would spend some guy time there talking football, politics or science.
This was always a blue collar Starbucks. Retired people, teachers, police officers, nurses and other normal regular people were the clientele. It was never a snobbish Starbucks. Parked outside were trucks, Hondas and working class vehicles. I hardly ever saw a BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar or God forbid, a Hummer.
At one point, my wife and I would meet there after leaving the house for our jobs to enjoy a Grande Cafe Mocha and scone. It was an early morning treat before she would drive north to work, and I south. This became our “Home Starbucks”. Every time we left on one of our all day driving trips to the Everglades or elsewhere, it was mandatory that we start the trip at our Starbucks. It blessed the day’s adventures.
Eventually, Starbucks went too commercial and opened up locations all over South Florida. In fact, there were two new Starbucks just a few miles west on Pines. Then three, then four then more!
I have to admit, we cheated on our Home Starbucks. We started frequenting the 
Starbucks at Sterling and Pine Island Road. Next, we betrayed our Starbucks by utilizing the drive-through at the Starbucks on Sheridan Street west of I-75.
We even sat down and enjoyed long conversations at the Starbucks on Flamingo Road and Sheridan.
Recently, I have to admit it, I moved my guy time conversations to the Starbucks at Pines and Hiatus, near the Movie Stop and Game Stop. And the Panera Bread which has free wi-fi that bleeds over to the northeast side of the Starbucks when the wind is right.
Maybe if we had been loyal to our Home Starbucks they would not be closing. I’ll admit, we took her for granted. We knew she would always be there for us. Our Home Starbucks. Like a loyal wife whom we were cheating on, she would always welcome us back warmly. We could drink Lattes at Pines and Hiatus, and the next day walk into our Home Starbucks and she would accept us back, serve us our coffee and scones without anger. Yet, we continued to stray. Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Plantaton and even Miami Shores!
It may sound corny and stupid, but sometimes I think that a place where so many memories are created, where so many conversations born, where so many good feelings gained wings at, well….somehow, I feel that a tiny piece of my soul remains there.
Now…..she is gone. And we will miss her. Our Home Starbucks that we always thought would be there for us, would always be our home Starbucks, is gone.
What will become of those tiny remnants of our souls now?
SCG
Just some guy with a blog; posting photos, fiction, tech articles along with some humor and sarcasm. Enjoy!
It’s worse…..the Starbucks at Fred Meyer here in Meridian has been closed. No more ‘snow angels’ in the parking lot. We’re DOOMED!!
Damn, that is sad.
Ah, but the memories of that day will last forever.
That was awesome!
Oh Please,
Cry me a river, businesses such as starbucks that feed off of bubble economics need to be taken out back and shot with the rest of the new age “give me something for nothing companies.”
These companies operate by feeding off of the bad financial habits of consumers who are just racking up massive debt on credit cards anyways. Does anyone other than myself think that 5-10 dollars for a cup of coffee is a bit on pricey side? I don’t care how rich you are. If you find ways to make your lifestyle match your income, your an idiot.
It’s called conspicuous consumption, people with disposable income who are all too happy to give it to someone with the Gall to take it from them, spit in their faces, and make you love them for it.
This country is full of sycophantic masochists, personally the whole culture of Starbucks makes me sick.
“Thanks, i’ll have a Double Ristretto Venti Nonfat Organic Chocolate Brownie Frappuccino Extra Hot with Foam and Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blended.”
I don’t need your uppity culture starbucks. I’d rather keep my hamilton’s in my wallet, or preferably stashed securely in a failing bank, like Bank of America, where it ought to be.
Buncha damn new age queers if you ask me.
Hey LC, that was a cranky rant better than any I could have written! But seriously, how do you really feel about Starbucks? Laugh.
I hear ya, I do. Valid points indeed.
SCG
LC,
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Amen!
Certain Starbucks do have a snobbish customer base. But there are some that have regular people. I like Starbucks because I can sit and read there, in cool air conditioning. I can also write using my laptop. It is a great place to meet someone for a conversation. The decor is inviting, the furniture comfortable. They are usually always very clean.
They are also very good places to people watch.
Maybe if we had corner diners like the 50′s we wouldn’t need Starbucks. But we don’t. The diners we do have are eager to get you in, get a big meal ordered, then get you out. Not a lingering place.
I also enjoy very rich coffee. Strong coffee. The few times I made coffee at work the Cubans wouldn’t drink it. Too strong. Starbucks has good strong coffee.
Are they overpriced? Well, that depends. If you don’t enjoy their strong blends, don’t want to sit and read or write or converse with close friends, and you just want to gulp coffee, yeah, they are overpriced.
I can’t tell you how many cups of coffee I have tossed out because they were too awful to drink. Or too weak.
Dunkin’ Donuts is coming up. Coffee is almost as good as Starbucks, and they offer free wi-fi. But they don’t have a very inviting environment. Plastic chairs don’t encourage long conversations as much as a couch or easy chair.
SCG
Sorry i was cranky, didnt mean to offend anyone. But honestly I do understand you SCG, it is nice to have a hangout spot outside of ones own home, and your point about Dunks is right on, its not a hangout spot.
I guess Starbucks is to Americans as a “cafeteria” is to hispanics.
You know starbucks really ain’t that bad, i’ve been known to frequent once or twice for my favorite Vanilla Frapp with whip cream, (its like ice cream with coffee).
Just look at the nutritional facts for this coffee, its like diabetes in a cup:
http://www.peertrainer.com/DFcaloriecounterB.aspx?id=8415
No need to apologize LC, I appreciate your view. And there are several Starbucks that I just will never visit again because of the snobby people there.
I’ve often thought it might be cool if someone opened up a chain of similar blue collar coffee shops. Maybe named, “Joe’s” or something. Fresh good coffee at a reasonable price, with donuts and pies instead of scones. Hey, they could call it American Pies. Also, no cell phones allowed, and instead of selling the new york times they would sell Sports Illustrated.
SCg
Well, Starbucks at Pines and Hiatus is closing on June 19. Sucks! No Starbucks at Pines area.
Thanks Bush!
Hiatus too!??? Damn! That is a real nice one!
SCG