Why are there Starbucks EVERYHWHERE? I don't know, but Wolf Coffee is asking the same question. According to Kevin Mccallum, Wolf Coffee's original intentions were to provide a sit down coffee place where customers could go to enjoy a cup of coffee in Sonoma County, CA. The problem is, Starbucks has literally run the once largest independent coffee house chain in Sonoma County out.
Mccallum explains that the once successful coffee shop now has at least 4 Starbucks right around it, and no one would even be able to find the shop without first running into numerous Starbucks. This is pretty ridiculous, considering Wolf is a local and very popular coffee shop that i'm sure has a lot of history in the county. It's a shame that Starbucks is running out the more laid back, enjoying coffee shops, where customers can go to enjoy a cup of coffee and a book, and reflect on their life. It wasn't just one or two stores, but the 42 stores total in the area have really taken a toll of the business at Wolf coffee.
Rick and Jeannie Mariani, the owners of Wolf explained that our culture was once a sit-down and enjoy a cup of coffee kind of culture, but it has turned into such a fast paced, drive-through, type culture. This is why a place like Wolf was bound to go under. Wolf will still be operating a whole sale business so the coffee can be sold at grocery stores and other shops, but there will be no more actual coffee shops.
I am from a very fun city where we, the residents, pride ourselves on the small local restaurants and coffee shops. So I, speaking from experience, would be very upset to hear if one of these shops were closing. Wolf has every right to be annoyed with the whole sitation, considering their initial success. Starbucks should probably rethink this because they are going to end up with a lot of bitter customers who refuse to add to their monopoly on coffee houses.
Also, now that Starbucks is starting to close down stores aroudn the nation, i'm sure they understand the feeling. It could be Karma, or maybe just the downturn in the economy, whatever it is, both companies are hurting bad.
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