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Ron Lutz II | all galleries >> Confessions of a Photophile…™ >> Photo a Day for a Year - 2003-2004 >> November 2003 > 11-15-2003
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15-NOV-2003 Ron Lutz 2nd

11-15-2003

Pittsburgh, PA USA

Starbucks is opening a new coffee shop here in Oakland, right across from a privatly owned coffee shop that has been here for years. I didn't think they would be a welcome addition and I guess I was correct as someone threw a brick through their window and sprayed this all over the front. Personally, I don't care to see it open as it's just one step into turning a unique area of town into "anywhere USA."


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Si Kirk08-Mar-2004 20:14
in the corporate world of mass consumerism it is good to see some one finaly standing up and saying enough is enough, lets hope it not too late!
Jill30-Dec-2003 21:41
Oh gawd, I can go on and on about this image....I live in a town in which there are more chain stores than anyone can count...detest it! Unigueness is no longer existent. The rules of franshise ownership dictates "sameness". The personable service is no longer existent compared to lets say, Altmans Deli in Baltimore, busy busy yet I mattered to them as a known customer. Yet, Olive Gardens, Starbucks, Books-A-Millions are considered progress. I suppose they are from a corporate standpoint.
Ron Lutz II21-Nov-2003 03:36
That last statement was not by me, Ron, but by my girlfriend and does not necessarily my own feelings on this matter. She just happened to use my PC that was logged into this site as me.
Ron Lutz II20-Nov-2003 21:47
What I think everyone is missing in this shot it the fact the spray paint on the shatterd glass is analegous to drawing "first blood" It says alot about the mind set of those being invaded by Starbucks
Guest 17-Nov-2003 23:51
I always like when someone think about a potential image, waits and gets a great one! I like how cryptic the writing on the wall looks. Great shot!
Linda Alstead17-Nov-2003 17:13
I really like this shot - it's a good example of loyalty and works really well. I don't have any problem with 'chains' or 'multiples' if they behave honourably and fairly though we too often see examples of them (multiples generally, I don't want to get sued!) squeezing out competitors then lowering their own standards. If they keep the independents on their toes then that is probably good too - I believe complacency kills many a once-good business - Jeanne has experience of Starbucks treating at least some of the community well - that's good. If the shop across the street is good enough it'll survive despite the competition.
Guest 16-Nov-2003 21:43
This is a good "photo journalism" shot. The starbucks debate is weird. I even worked for them for a while, and I have to admit, they paid well to start (by that I mean at least $2-$3 more an hour than most food service jobs) and offered health benefits to all employees if they worked over 20 hours a week. That attracted alot of former "stay-at-home moms" who really needed the benefits and extra cash. It seemed to be a good thing for them. However, it is tough for the small "Mom and Pop" shops in neighborhoods when Starbucks opens. Tough issue that comes up often these days. Well documented.
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