Starbucks

[Luke]

Is there any confirmation on whether or not Starbucks is coming to Bricktown? If so, when and where?

Or was it all just unfounded speculation?

I'd love to see a Starbucks on the canal.

[floater]

Latest word is that it looks like a go...but it hasn't been publicly confirmed...

[Nuclear_2525]

Every entertainment area has to have at least one Starbuck's...don't be surprised before long if there are more than one on the canal. As of now, there are 5 Starbucks within a mile and a half on 71st in Tulsa.

[Patrick]

Hogan says it's a go. It will be located in one of the building two buildings Hogan has built....he wouldn't say which one though. Note also that in addition to the Sonic Restaurant, in the two buildings, there will also be a Nothing but Noodles, Earls Ribs, and Marble Slab. Also I believe Jamba Juice is still in the works as well.

[~~*DarlingDiva*~~]

I would So love this idea!It would be nice.i still cant wait to go see the new theater down there too.Has anyone been yet?Was it great?

[Jay]

Starbucks building 3 sites in city, looks statewide

By Tricia Pemberton
The Oklahoman

Starbucks Coffee is expanding in Oklahoma.

Did you know?

Since December, when coffee prices on the New York Board of Trade reached the highest level in 4½ years, prices have risen about 30 percent.

The futures market has risen because of a shortage of high quality coffee in Colombia, Central America and Brazil after reduced attention to groves during an extended period of low prices, industry members said. Brazil's next crop, harvested May to September, is expected to be smaller than the last one because of the biennial tree cycle and minimal care for trees.

These conditions have caused many corporations, such as Sara Lee Corp. and Kraft Foods, to hike the retail price of coffee. Starbucks raised its prices by about 5 percent in October.

The Associated Press

The Seattle-based coffee company is building three stores in Oklahoma City, but they are also looking at Lawton, Stillwater and Enid, district manager Dale Voss said.

"We are definitely making a push to grow in Oklahoma," Voss said.

"We want to go where people want us to be. If we feel like we're successful in an area, we will build there."

In Oklahoma City, construction is under way on stores on the northwest corner of Northwest Expressway and Independence, and on the southeast corner of Interstate 240 and Pennsylvania Avenue.

On the southeast corner of Northwest Expressway and McArthur, Starbucks will occupy an existing building.

All three drive-through locations should open by midsummer and employ about 17 people each, Voss said.

The new Starbucks will bring a total of 11 stores in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and 17 across the state. That does not include shops in Super Target, Marriott or Albertsons stores, which are handled through a different corporate division, Voss said.

Starbucks employs almost 900 people in Oklahoma. The company opened its first store in Oklahoma in November 2001 at NW 63 and Western in Nichols Hills Plaza.

Voss said Starbucks now has begun looking to grow in remote locations.

"There are more of those in Oklahoma than in some other states," he said.

The state's crossroads of Interstates 35 and 40 also is attractive to the company.

Jim Brooks, business marketing specialist with the Food and Agricultural Products at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, said the growth of Starbucks is phenomenal since the company started in 1971.

At the end of February, the company had a total of 9,073 shops nationally and internationally and NASDAQ-reported sales of $468 million for the month -- a 23 percent increase over $380 million during February 2004.

"Their profitability speaks that they know what they're doing," Brooks said. "They don't really have to worry about the learning curve, they've accomplished that."

Brooks said the company has some competition -- locally Java Dave's and Panera Bread, in addition to independently owned shops.

"But they seem to be at a level of their own that they've created, and everyone else tries to get to that."

Service and consistent products and quality are the key to the company's success, Brooks said.

"Everywhere they've gone, they've been successful. Everywhere they open one there's a line of people waiting for them to turn on the lights and open the door."

Voss said the company is happy with store performance in Oklahoma.

"All stores are doing very well. That's obvious by the growth. We're looking to put as many stores as the people of Oklahoma would like us to put here," Voss said.

[soonerguru]

For the life of me, I cannot understand why Starbucks hasn't opened a location on Campus Corner in Norman. That would seem like the obvious place to expand.

One in Bricktown would be nice also.

[renffahcs]

Starbucks has aggressively been building in North Texas for the past couple of years. Even smaller cities and towns such as Wichita Falls, Sherman, Gainesville, Decatur, and Weatherford now have them. I would not be suprised to see them in cities like Lawton, Enid, etc. Norman and Bricktown would be great too. Starbucks has locations in downtown Fort Worth and Dallas so I don't see why Bricktown and/or Downtown would not ba a good location.

[Midtowner]

Bricktown would not be a great place for a Starbucks.

But, it'll probably happen.

I'd rather have a multilevel bookstore with a coffee shop on the bottom floor though. I think such a business could do quite well on the canal.

[mranderson]

"Bricktown would not be a great place for a Starbucks."

actually, I disagree. Bricktown would be the PERFECT place for a Starbucks.

Why? A lot of people want that cup of joe while they walk around looking at the area. Or for an evening cap.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Since Starbucks has sort of a "geezer" trend feel to it, it would do well anywhere in our fair city. I personally think the best location would be, in order, Downtown, Bricktown (yes, they have now opened a starbucks in my pocket), Campus Corner, Midtown, Quail Springs, NW Expressway, Southern Hills, and maybe around I-35 in Edmond?

[Patrick]

Since Starbucks has sort of a "geezer" trend feel to it, it would do well anywhere in our fair city. I personally think the best location would be, in order, Downtown, Bricktown (yes, they have now opened a starbucks in my pocket), Campus Corner, Midtown, Quail Springs, NW Expressway, Southern Hills, and maybe around I-35 in Edmond?

There's currently locations on NW Expressway at Rockwell, and at Penn Square Mall....they're in the midst of building one directly across from Baptist Medical Center at NW Expressway and Indendence.

The Quail Springs area already has a Starbucks at Memorial and Penn, next to Eyemart Express.

[Patrick]

Bricktown would not be a great place for a Starbucks.

But, it'll probably happen.

I'd rather have a multilevel bookstore with a coffee shop on the bottom floor though. I think such a business could do quite well on the canal.

I'm not completely opposed to a Starbucks in Bricktown, but I like your idea better Midtowner. Right now it seems the the two things we need the most in Bricktown are a bookstore and a grocery store. I'd like to see the bookstore be incorporated with a Starbucks or something similar.

Personally, if I had my wishes, I'd much rather see a local coffee shop locate in Bricktown. As you know, I'm anti-chain!

What about Uncommon Grounds? Is it not that great?

[Midtowner]

I'm not completely opposed to a Starbucks in Bricktown, but I like your idea better Midtowner. Right now it seems the the two things we need the most in Bricktown are a bookstore and a grocery store. I'd like to see the bookstore be incorporated with a Starbucks or something similar.

Personally, if I had my wishes, I'd much rather see a local coffee shop locate in Bricktown. As you know, I'm anti-chain!

What about Uncommon Grounds? Is it not that great?

I feel bad.. I've never been there.

I got to the gym instead of the the coffee shop.

Maybe I'll study there when in school. I love the atmosphere in Bricktown.

[Patrick]

I feel bad.. I've never been there.

I got to the gym instead of the the coffee shop.

Maybe I'll study there when in school. I love the atmosphere in Bricktown.

I've been to Uncommon Grounds once. I didn't think it was such a bad little coffee shop. I thought it fit nicely in the Bricktown area. I'd liek to hear other people's opinions on Uncommon Grounds.

[soonerguru]

Yes, Uncommon Grounds is good.

It just doesn't feel like a real coffee house. Oh wait, neither does Starbucks.

I also fully agree with the book store idea. I've been beating that drum for a while now. I talked to Randy Hogan about it and he said he has worked the idea hard with the Borders people. He said they -- and B&N -- are all about the 'burbs, despite what they claim as their interest in inner-city locations.

As an example, he cited Denver. Thousands of downtown residents, thriving downtown, etc. But, and I can't remember which one, one of the bookstore chains has a location there downtown. Apparently they do OK, but not near as well as they do in their suburban locations.

He said he is still trying very hard to make the big sell. He also said they weren't impressed with the movie theater; they viewed it as competition. Bizarre to say the least.

[Patrick]

He also said they weren't impressed with the movie theater; they viewed it as competition. Bizarre to say the least.

Whatever! That's an excuse if you ask me!

[Jay]

I think what would be great for a grocery store is something similar to Kamps or what Kamps used to be. I haven't been down there in Kamps in almost ten years.

It does not need to be a Wal-Mart Grocery store or some other huge set up.

Just a small grocery store. Kind of like what most of us grew up going to with our parents. A small meat counter, produce section and a dairy. A small selection of everything else. A no frills grocery store with limited service. The only service you would have is maybe a deli thats it.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Yes I kne wabout the new locations. I was just thinking of all the good places for one.

I don't know if someone debated this already (I skimmed the above posts in under 2 minutes) but I feel that BOTH downtown and Bricktown could support a Starbucks.

[Patrick]

....I feel that BOTH downtown and Bricktown could support a Starbucks.

I concur!

[Patrick]

I think what would be great for a grocery store is something similar to Kamps or what Kamps used to be. I haven't been down there in Kamps in almost ten years.

It does not need to be a Wal-Mart Grocery store or some other huge set up.

Just a small grocery store. Kind of like what most of us grew up going to with our parents. A small meat counter, produce section and a dairy. A small selection of everything else. A no frills grocery store with limited service. The only service you would have is maybe a deli thats it.

It's funny that you mention this..I drive by there every day and I've considered sending the owner a letter asking them to look into locating a 2nd Kamps downtown! Who knows! They might consider it!

[metro]

technically, downtown has at least one starbucks, caffeinas inside the renaissance

I feel that BOTH downtown and Bricktown could support a Starbucks.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Uh huh. I consider having to go into a hotel, that I never knew had a Starbucks for a cup'a joe annoying. It's like having to race the traffic to deposit a pay check at the Albertsons off of I 40.

[metro]

Well, I agree, I was just simply stating that Starbucks is available downtown. I do agree that we can support one more in downtown and another in Bricktown. FYI the one in the renaissance does have an outside door entrance though.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

From Sheridan?