$8 million project planned for Automobile Alley

**metro** · 06-30-2006, 10:18 AM

Thanks Malibu for posting the article.

**Luke** · 06-30-2006, 11:40 AM

I think the Plaza Court would be a great location for Starbucks. The hospital is right there, and Heritage Hills and Mesta Park are right there, and all the Starbucks-drinking lawyers are right there.

That Plaza Court sure is cool...

**floater** · 06-30-2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Luke

I think the Plaza Court would be a great location for Starbucks. The hospital is right there, and Heritage Hills and Mesta Park are right there, and all the Starbucks-drinking lawyers are right there.

That Plaza Court sure is cool...

I very much agree. A Starbucks would open the gates like few other tenants could. If somehow CVS/Walgreens could locate on 10th or 13th, Midtown would have the elements in place to make it a hip, livable neighborhood. It'd also be in keeping with the Medical District planned for 10th.

**BDP** · 06-30-2006, 01:57 PM

If somehow CVS/Walgreens could locate on 10th or 13th, Midtown would have the elements in place to make it a hip, livable neighborhood.

Maybe liveable, but I am not sure Starbucks, Walgreen, or CVS would add much in way of "hipness". Maybe it'd make it more yuppie and/or suburban.

I agree, though, that all would be successful and since all of those places thrive on high levels of saturation there might even be room for 2 of each.

**floater** · 06-30-2006, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by BDP

Maybe liveable, but I am not sure Starbucks, Walgreen, or CVS would add much in way of "hipness". Maybe it'd make it more yuppie and/or suburban.

I agree, though, that all would be successful and since all of those places thrive on high levels of saturation there might even be room for 2 of each.

I think Starbucks would add a hipness quotient to Midtown that would raise a lot of eyebrows. I'm not usually one for chains, but Starbucks is not your typical chain. There are 140 of them in Manhattan, each a third place where you can spend as much time as you want doing anything -- meeting friends, working on a project, reading, or just lounging.

Along with Brown's and the Grateful Bean, you have a nice neighborhood of third places. The decor, music, and whole other language at the counter ("I'll have a venti skinny double no whip latte," or whatever the proper order is) provides a cool and communal vibe that attracts people. And let's face it, some people won't go into a neighborhood without a familiar name. A Starbucks go far above what a Mickey D's would for Midtown's reputation. I think the local establishments plus the local places would be a good mix.