Inspired By Starbucks
15th Avenue Coffee and Tea opens today on the hill. In case you missed the surrounding drama, here’s a recap.
Posted by: Kristin Cordova on Jul 24, 2009 at 04:00PM
8 Comments
Call it what you want: Zombie Starbucks, Smith-bucks, Fauxbucks—but 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea opens today on Capitol Hill and by all accounts it is quite an attractive space.
And there are a lot of accounts. For anyone who missed out on all the media drama surrounding the story, here’s the juice:
It started back in June when Capitol Hill Seattle broke the story that something fishy was going on at the presumably pink-slipped Starbucks on 15th Ave E and E Thomas Street. CHS bloggers scooped more details, prompting the community blog to get a statement from Sbux Corporate about the store’s “renovation.”
Fast forward to July, when Seattle Weekly writer Maggie Savarino noticed striking parallels between the revamp and next-door neighbor, Linda Derschang-owned Smith after sneaking inside for a look-see.
Then things started really percolating (sorry, couldn’t resist). Seattle Times Sbux beat reporter Melissa Allison filled in the gaping holes, introducing us to 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea—a.k.a. the coffee shop formerly known as the “Zombie Starbucks,” per CHS—and locating other stylistically pilfered proprietors. (Psst…the Sbux spin-off will also sell wine and beer besides working to foster “community personality.”)
CHS had a bit of a moment.
But moving on. Paul Constant of The Stranger chipped in his two cents on SLOG. A bit late to the table (but who are we to talk?), seattlepi.com reporter Sara Kiesler joined the fray, stirring the pot vigorously by intimating the possibility of a Linda-driven lawsuit. Derschang herself wrote a peeved email to Stranger reporter and friend Bethany Jean Clement, venting her frustration at the copycatting corp and eliciting an eruption of Slog blog comments. Click here for a thoughtful reflection from Seattle Coffee Works co-owner Sebastian Simsch (whose store was also the subject of Sbux reconnaissance).
Then Seattle Weekly followed up, adding a tidbit to the PI’s lawsuit angle. But once again, Melissa Allison of the Times was there to set the record straight: Linda D. never intended to sue Starbucks. (She swears! I talked to her yesterday!) And seattlepi.com took off the gloves.
Final word from Derschang: “I felt like it got blown out of proportion. Their business is painted the same color as Smith. It’s not a big deal.”
Phew! Glad to have that out of the way.
Now that your curiosity is peaked, check out the Starbucks “re-imagining” at 15th Ave Coffee & Tea and decide what you think of the new incognito cafe.
And don’t forget to blog about it.
Tags: Starbucks, Dining-World Drama, Smith
Nice blog entry! I wonder if hipsters will go there because it’s ironic on so many levels: A corporation that was once small and local, is now multi-national and local at the same time; but now is trying to be unique and more local-ish, but really copied a unique, local idea (as in next door local), thus being the opposite of unique. They should sell t-shirts at Smith that say “I work next to stupid” (with an arrow). PLUS…. it IS the latest/best thing to tweet about, until the block party starts in a few hours.
So why is Derschang saying “it’s not a big deal” after her rant to Clement? I see her frustration for sure—her places are undeniable and unique.
To me the most interesting part of all of this is Starbucks’ apparent desire to distance itself from its own name. Anti-branding. Fascinating.
Good piece of writing! It is hard to make an interesting article about a pink-slippd Sbux. Maybe you should talk to Nora Ephrom and turn into a another Meg Ryan movie!
I don’t think there is such a thing as being unique. I am sure that Derschang got her ideas for Smith from other places. Vintage fixtures, salved wood and brown colors are not unique to places like Smith. If a person sees something they like they will try to emulate it. That’s how people work. However, if I bought i bought a blue car and the next day I find out that my neighbor bought the same blue car, I would most likely say “copycat!”. But is that really that big of deal? I say no.
i agree, kathryn. the anti-branding is the most interesting part of this move. my friend who lives on first hill only goes to sbux’s because that’s where she feels comfortable, even though her surroundings swell with indp. coffee houses. why would starbucks want to distance itself from the brand it has worked so hard to create?
True, Carlos, but I would say that Linda’s establishments are “unique” within the Seattle community. She’s cultivated a brand.
I went by there on my way to the bus. There were two guys outside protesting—one dressed in a S’bucks barista getup, the other in a suit with a “Howie” nametag. While I was talking to them, a van kept circling the block so a kid in the passenger seat could douse the protesters with a Supersoaker.
The first time it happened I ducked because I have PTSD from being in DC when the sniper was on the loose. Then I went to Ladro for coffee.