Hi fellow signatories/diaspora, I am resurrecting this petition because the author of the West Side Rag articles, Michael McDowell, was contacted by the organizer of an eerily similar campaign/petition to Save our Local Starbucks, this time in the Hillcrest section of Toronto, Canada From the claims of diversity and community, down to the online petition then picked up by local magazines, all the way to the inevitable ‘go somewhere else’ and ‘Starbucks is Evil’ pushbacks. The difference is hope still lives for our friends across the border.
They now have 500+ signatures and as their store is in fact still open I thought who better to add their muscle to the fight than those of us who lose the first round trying to save this tiny beleaguered start-up trying to gain a foothold against the evil Mom and Pop coffee shops? ;)
But seriously I am hoping each of us can, especially after experiencing the reality of the loss of our own beloved Starbucks, reach out across the great divide to Canada (home of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy) and help those locals hold on their own important local community.
I hope you can all take a moment and support them by clicking on and signing the petition link below and I hope you have found a new place to write your blogs, build your empires. meet your kids and make friends for life.
Important Links:
Press Release from the Organizer below:
Starbucks Spurns Community Rallying to Save its Store
Unprecedented grassroots campaign to save a Starbucks store is being stonewalled by corporate head office. Does Starbucks not know how to be liked?
TORONTO, Canada - July 23, 2019 – Neighbours in Toronto's mid-town Hillcrest Village are rallying to keep open their Starbucks store which the company has slated to close on August 30. The campaign, called "Save Our Starbucks," proclaims the store's importance as a community hub and appeals to Starbucks' mission statement which commits the company to values of community and human connection. With over 520 signatures on a petition asking Starbucks to reconsider its decision, the campaign is supported by the local city councillor and has been featured on the front page of the Toronto Star, Canada's highest circulation newspaper. Nevertheless, despite repeated requests for dialogue by campaign members and their city councillor, Starbucks has remained silent.
"It's hard to understand why Starbucks is stonewalling us," said Ian Cosh, spokesperson for the campaign. "You'd think they would welcome our expression of loyalty. Yet Starbucks hasn't even acknowledged us. People in Hillcrest are feeling hurt and betrayed."
No one from Starbucks Canada's corporate office has answered calls and emails from Cosh and city councillor Josh Matlow imploring the company to engage with the community. When the Toronto Star asked Starbucks to comment on the story, the newspaper was sent a statement from Starbucks' U.S. head office:
"Thanks for reaching out. We continue to experience high growth in Canada and are proud of our success. As a normal part of doing business, every year we open many new stores, we close some, and relocate a few others. We consider many factors when we make these decisions. When we decide to close a store, we go to great lengths to minimize negative impacts: we offer affected store partners roles at other stores, we communicate to customers and community neighbours in advance and advise them how we will continue to support them moving forward."
Toronto Star reporter Ed Keenan observed that the statement "appears to be a boilerplate form letter."
"Not only is it boilerplate," Cosh added, "it's not even true. Starbucks has communicated nothing to the community. No support's been offered."
In its petition, the campaign describes the Hillcrest Starbucks store as a uniquely inclusive, accessible place that connects families and neighbours of different ages, abilities, and occupations. Comments on the petition express shock that the store is to close, noting that it is usually busy and highlighting its importance to kids and parents.
"One of the few kid- and teen-friendly places in our neighbourhood. Please keep it open!" wrote Laura Cavanaugh.
"This place was my lifeline when Tristan was a baby," wrote Deb Singer. "It was our morning ritual, he was so excited to go for a 'walk' in the baby carrier and I got my morning tea, plus a chance to talk to adults. This is an amazing community hub and serves such an important purpose for many people."
"I don't know what I'll do if this location closes," wrote Liz DiFrancesco. "There is no other cafe in the neighbourhood that has the space, warmth, and sense of community."
City councillor Josh Matlow added his voice to the campaign, saying, "We love and strongly support all of our community’s independent coffee shops. But it’s also true that there are some Starbucks that really act like a local gathering place. This is one of them."
As Starbucks has given notice to terminate its lease, the landlord of the property (Kazro Farms Ltd) is moving quickly to find a new tenant and has declined requests by the campaign to work with the community. "From what we're hearing, it's unlikely that Starbucks will be replaced by a similar establishment," Cosh said. "Given local circumstances, our best hope is in Starbucks."
"Has any community ever rallied to save a Starbucks store?" Cosh added. "Maybe Starbucks doesn't know how to be liked. Time is running out but it's still possible for some good to come from this. We're still hoping for a human response."