Goodbye Starbucks - you were never good enough for this town

I-filed said :

Starbucks was crap. This town way too sophisticated. Maybe they should have put Starbucks at Charny.

To sling off at Canberra suburbs is smartarse not sophisticated. And Canberrans are not “sophisticated” they are intelligent.

Coffee snobbery seems to be a true passion of our towns wankers.

I love my coffee, and I know the difference between a good and bad coffee, and one thing that annoys me is coffee snobs slagging Starbucks for the simple reason it is a chain store. I’d like to know how many of them have actually tried their coffee. In my opinion, Starbucks is the best chain coffee store around. It runs circles around Gloria Jeans. I always enjoyed my weekend coffee at Gungahlin or Brand Depot Starbucks. I will miss it.

‘the best chain coffee’ is like saying pus tastes better than citrus mould. you may ‘love your coffee’, but i’m guessing i wouldn’t.

It looks like just the Manuka one will remain open.

http://www.starbucks.com/australia/closures.pdf

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

That KFC store was all-you-can-eat, too. Never seen anything like it before or since. That was also when KFC in Canberra did home delivery. Ah, the mid-nineties – what a golden age we lived in.

OH MY GOD! I had completely forgotten about that. Those were the days.

That KFC store was all-you-can-eat, too. Never seen anything like it before or since. That was also when KFC in Canberra did home delivery. Ah, the mid-nineties – what a golden age we lived in.

I realise there are some people who dislike Starbucks because of their coffee, and other people, like me, who just dislike and disagree with the Company and their ethics. By them closing their doors and giving their staff zero notice and minuscule compensation – is yet another reason why they suck. They are a large multinational corporation who, while they are loosing money, take little care of those who have been working for them. They clearly give not thought or value to their employee’s lives. It’s absolutely unacceptable. Very typical of these companies. All that matters is the bottom line. I hope the ex-employee’s find jobs with little problem. From what I understand, there is still quite a shortage in the hospitality industry here.

As for Panhead’s comment – I really feel for the hard-working franchise owners such as your Dad. Franchise owners are another victim to big companies closing their doors. Also they are often the ones affected in the initial saturation of a market area:

Franchisee 1 spends a huge amount buying into a franchise and opens up shop in a town centre. Franchisee 2 does the same. The company set these two businesses up to saturate the marketplace and push out small business. Then head-office closes franchisee 1 (or 2’s) shop now that all competition has been pushed out of the market place, and it is not “company viable” to have to have two franchises open so close to each other. Franchisee 1 loses their money and investment, and all their staff are out of work.

While different to what has most recently happened, this sadly happens all the time. This time is has backfired for Star*ucks, but sadly there are thousands of casualties.

Overheard said :

There used to be one where the Holy Grail is now across from Glebe Park. And a KFC a few doors down, both now gone. That strip leading down to where there are now pedestrian lights used to be a late night meeting point for young blokes and their hot cars. Not sure if the disappearances are linked. (Maybe not since the car club went on way later than the stores were open.)

Yes the closure of that McDonald’s was an amazing thing due to how rare it is for that to happen.

When that was open it was still only two (that and James Court) as I can recall. So the original point does not stand.

p.s. good riddance to starbucks and their awful overpriced brown coffee-flavoured hot water.

isn’t it the case that we have negative unemployment in canberra – ie more vacancies than people drawing the dole? certainly it seems to me, in civic anyway, that every 3rd shop has an ad in the window for a vacant position. so really while it would of course be inconvenient to be working for starbucks and have to now find a new job, i just don’t think it would be that hard a task.

Central Cafe is a family run cafe. Same guy who owned the one in QBN. The guy is up there with some of the nicest and respectable guys I’ve met.

I forgot totally about the Maccas where the Holy Grail was, wow!

Officer Accused Of Threatening Starbucks Managers For Free Coffee

http://www.local6.com/news/16904043/detail.html

There used to be one where the Holy Grail is now across from Glebe Park. And a KFC a few doors down, both now gone. That strip leading down to where there are now pedestrian lights used to be a late night meeting point for young blokes and their hot cars. Not sure if the disappearances are linked. (Maybe not since the car club went on way later than the stores were open.)

Why are there less McDonalds that there used to be in Civic?

Were there ever more than the one in the Canberra Centre and the one in James Court?

Felix I think it is always a bit of a gamble – dive in early and secure a prime site then hold on until the business develops, or wait until it develops then try to find a decent site?

It is fair to think that some may have expected there would be a decent employment base there by now. It was April last year that Hargreaves attested that his government would not be repeating the mistakes of Tuggeranong in Gungahlin! Yet nothing’s hit the ground yet.

And now we have Andre Barr attesting to Weston people that the government wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of Gungahlin in Molonglo!

Woody’s tastes are much too refined for mere takeaway coffee.

Look, I’m really flattered that you remember me, follow my posts and feel the need to comment when I do, but seriously – you should see other people. I’m with Ralph now.

It does surprise me though with all these businesses closing that the owners didn’t do a feasability study before they opened up. Like how many coffees/cakes/other junk would they need to sell to actually cover (and make an actual profit) rent/wages/electricity etc. It would seem pretty basic maths to me but obviously a lot of people have more money than sense and don’t do their homework.

I’m not a coffee drinker so don’t have an opinion really on the demise of Starbucks.

As for all the Gungahlin businesses closing I reckon Pizza Hut can’t be far off, hardly ever see many people in there. Or KFC for that matter. There was a sign on the window of Video 2000 store that they are closing down soon too.

The Central Cafe that is opening, is that like a franchise or a relocation of the one at Queanbeyan?

Loquaciousness said :

bubzie said :

I’ve vowed never to drink there again.

Seems as though you won’t have to, either. What a stroke of luck _that_ was! 😉

L

Hahahaha..i just realized that!! hehe! 😀

Two things.

Firstly after watching my dad and cousin toil away at their Gloria Jeans franchise on the Gold Coast I think its ridiculous for people to bad mouth franchises. They work damn hard and get no respect at all. I don’t really care about Starbucks but do feel for the people without jobs, but as people have said its a coffee shop. Nothing else, nothing more. No need to get all new age and hippy on it…

Secondly I’m so excited for central cafe in Gunghalin, the best place for normal big meals. Cheap too, defiantly a good replacement for Billy Baxters.

whoops 156

They have 56 staff in canberra FYI

amarooresident said :

Jonathon Reynolds said :

As JB has indicated in the story update, the Chief Minister has put out a media release in a thinly veiled attempt to make some media milage over the misfortune of those affected by the Starbucks closures.

I think the Chief Minister should understand this:

(a) the people who were working at Starbucks are more than likely residents of Canberra already,

(b) if you were genuine about helping these individuals you’d assign a liaison officer to work with Starbucks and these people in finding new employment rather than telling them to refer to a website, and

(c) a word of advice… get yourself some advisors that aren’t going to put out media releases on your behalf that make you look like more of a twat than you already are.

And if you actually read the media release and visited the site you would see that Stanhope was pointing them to the 30 odd employment links contained in the Live in Canberra website.

There are plenty of reasons to have a shot at Stanhope but when he’s drawing attention to a resource that people can use after they’ve lost their job then I reckon he’s doing the right thing.

the fact that every other unemployed person will now be hitting the site for these links (as he said it in a media release) the chances of the starbucks employees getting them all won’t be very high.

if you don’t like shopping for your hardware at bunnings, btw, go to magnet mart. canberra started, canberra owned.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

News.com had almost 200 comments last night about Starbucks

Presumably the other 20 million people in the country were too busy having lives than to proclaim their burning hatred about a coffee shop on the internet.

“It’s an outrage – words can’t express my anger…”
“Iraq? Child abuse? Emissions trading?”
“What? No, Starbucks! I’ve just learned that some people drink their coffee! Now, where’s my Che shirt…”

LOL. Thats gold.

As for Standopes message; what an absolute assclown. Live in Canberra where massive chains are deserting us, leaving you on your ass, shit out of luck with a 400 per week rent, and where your aspirations of owning a home diminish a little bit more each day.

That being said, I love living in Canberra but then again, living off a Starbucks wage in Canberra would be quite a task. I feel sorry for the Starbucks staff but hopefully they move on to other coffee houses and cafes.

bubzie said :

I’ve vowed never to drink there again.

Seems as though you won’t have to, either. What a stroke of luck _that_ was! 😉

L

Jonathon Reynolds said :

As JB has indicated in the story update, the Chief Minister has put out a media release in a thinly veiled attempt to make some media milage over the misfortune of those affected by the Starbucks closures.

I think the Chief Minister should understand this:

(a) the people who were working at Starbucks are more than likely residents of Canberra already,

(b) if you were genuine about helping these individuals you’d assign a liaison officer to work with Starbucks and these people in finding new employment rather than telling them to refer to a website, and

(c) a word of advice… get yourself some advisors that aren’t going to put out media releases on your behalf that make you look like more of a twat than you already are.

And if you actually read the media release and visited the site you would see that Stanhope was pointing them to the 30 odd employment links contained in the Live in Canberra website.

There are plenty of reasons to have a shot at Stanhope but when he’s drawing attention to a resource that people can use after they’ve lost their job then I reckon he’s doing the right thing.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

*shrug* Tasted all right to me. But then maybe I can see that coffee is just a drink, and I don’t feel the need to rail against a company to maintain my jaded hipster image.

Woody’s tastes are much too refined for mere takeaway coffee. Only expensive truffles will do…

But hey, when you’re earning 100k+ in the public service, it’s fair enough. High society here people. Be sure to show some respect.

On what evidence (anecdotal or otherwise) do you base your claim that Bunning’s has done this?

For what it’s worth, Bunning’s is an EXACT carbon copy of Home Depot in the US/Canada, just as BigW is a carbon copy of Walmart (on a smaller scale). I can’t blame the companies, as they took ideas that were booming in the US and just copied them. Why reinvent the wheel?

You don’t know hell on earth until you’ve shopped at a Super-WalMart (food, clothes, car parts, prescriptions, eye glasses, hardware, etc)… but damn is sure is convenient!

Last time i had a coffee there, there was about ..quarter of the cup’s contents, of syrup in the bottom.

I’ve vowed never to drink there again.

News.com had almost 200 comments last night about Starbucks

Presumably the other 20 million people in the country were too busy having lives than to proclaim their burning hatred about a coffee shop on the internet.

“It’s an outrage – words can’t express my anger…”
“Iraq? Child abuse? Emissions trading?”
“What? No, Starbucks! I’ve just learned that some people drink their coffee! Now, where’s my Che shirt…”

Also, Bunning’s isn’t a multinational. It’s a part of Wesfarmers which is a publically listed Australian company.

Not essential to your point re ‘big v small’ but worthy of mentioning.

As JB has indicated in the story update, the Chief Minister has put out a media release in a thinly veiled attempt to make some media milage over the misfortune of those affected by the Starbucks closures.

I think the Chief Minister should understand this:

(a) the people who were working at Starbucks are more than likely residents of Canberra already,

(b) if you were genuine about helping these individuals you’d assign a liaison officer to work with Starbucks and these people in finding new employment rather than telling them to refer to a website, and

(c) a word of advice… get yourself some advisors that aren’t going to put out media releases on your behalf that make you look like more of a twat than you already are.

sepi said :

I believe in supporting small local business over multinationals.

ONce the multinationals have driven all competition out of the market they then jack up their prices and the consumer has no option to go elsewhere. Bunnings anyone??

I don’t think the cafe industry has a high barrier to entry.

I don’t often go to Hardware Stores so I have no knowledge with which to judge your claim about Bunnings. On what evidence (anecdotal or otherwise) do you base your claim that Bunning’s has done this?

Mr Stanhope has just issued a media release beseaching ex-Starbucks employees to visit the Live In Canberra website, because every cafe has “staff wanted” notices stuck up in the window.

Does it mention the median rental of $410 PW? Or the massive undersupply of land for new building, or the undersupply of builders for new building for that matter?

What Aussie owned chains? They never last long, they just get greedy and sell them to the US (Arnott’s, Kraft etc…)

“One thing I do look forward to is trying out other coffee places in Gungahlin for a decent brew. Any suggestions?”

Well Hingo, Billy Baxters is pretty goo…no wait – closed.

GCC folk had one of our secret squirrel meetings at the Coffee Club on the weekend and can attest that your $4 gets you a very long wait and a good tasting but luke-warm coffee.

As someone else said Michels coffee is good but with no [cue French accent] ‘ambience’.

Have to keep you posted after we shift our plotting and scheming to new haunts…

I wonder if this was an Aussie owned chain if we would be getting the same comments.

boycotting McDonalds or Starbucks for being a chain is not going to hurt them one bit

Blowing them up however…..

Hm? Right now some alarm is going off at ASIO… be aware, no alarmed if a black unmarked panel van remains parked down the street from you for a while now. 🙂

I believe in supporting small local business over multinationals.

ONce the multinationals have driven all competition out of the market they then jack up their prices and the consumer has no option to go elsewhere. Bunnings anyone??

H1NG0 said :

I love my coffee, and I know the difference between a good and bad coffee, and one thing that annoys me is coffee snobs slagging Starbucks for the simple reason it is a chain store. I’d like to know how many of them have actually tried their coffee. In my opinion, Starbucks is the best chain coffee store around. It runs circles around Gloria Jeans. I always enjoyed my weekend coffee at Gungahlin or Brand Depot Starbucks. I will miss it.

Oh I want to throw up when I hear these type of comments. News.com had almost 200 comments last night about Starbucks, only a handful were positive like this one. Most of the comments I have read don’t just say Starbucks is bad because it is a chain, it’s because the coffee is no good. No crema, soggy milk foam, bitter and synthetic espresso and flavours that taste like something I would fill my car up with. Come to think of it, coffee costs more per litre than petrol so truthfully, I would rather have what my car s having than Starbucks.

As for Coffee Guru, I won’t say they’re bad but in my experience, they burn the espresso so it comes out very bitter and hollow in flavor. Not my cup of tea… or rather coffee?

My argument exactly. Thanks Jakez. We all love the small businesses, but unless they are competitive, they stand little chance whether you like it or not. Harsh reality of it all.

The reason Starbucks is closing so many stores is that they continued to expand when the US is going through a financial crisis. It has finally caught up with them and bit them in the arse. It had nothing to do with the demand of their product.

Of all nations America should not be exporting food and beverages to the world. Nuclear weapons yes but not coffee and hamburgers.

tylersmayhem said :

H1NG0:

Perhaps there need to be more people passionate about small business than pure convenience

The entire purpose of a business is to provide a product or service at value for money. I entirely accept that the ‘atmosphere’ of a place counts and that ‘utility’ (in terms of economics) should not be looked at merely in terms of the specific product one has entered a store to purchase. However to suggest that we the consumer owe the small businessperson a living is ridiculous. I will go for whoever gives me the overall better package per dollar, and be thankful for it.

H1NG0:

I am calm. But I can’t say I agree with your example of petrol stations though. There is a real and big demand for oil/petrol as a necessity – not for coffee or fast food. I also disagree that if people stop going to McDonalds etc then there will be no effect. There is an obvious reason why Starbucks is closing. Not enough demand. Why are there less McDonalds that there used to be in Civic? (globally as well) – no demand.

Perhaps there need to be more people passionate about small business than pure convenience

tylersmayhem said :

one thing that annoys me is coffee snobs slagging Starbucks for the simple reason it is a chain store.

No, I hate *uckbucks because of their shit methods of shutting down small business! Yes, I’ve unfortunately tried the slop they serve as coffee. There has been the odd occasion that a friend who loves Starbucks wants to go there, and I don’t put up any fuss because I don’t want to make them feel shit about it – but if you think their coffee is better than a little local joint, you need your taste buds checked.

Calm down man, I’m not saying that I can’t possibly find a better coffee elsewhere, I’m saying their coffee is better than other chains. I go there because it is quick and the young folk there make coffee that I enjoy. What is so wrong with that?

The point is, boycotting McDonalds or Starbucks for being a chain is not going to hurt them one bit. If the world ran that way, everyone would stop filling up their cars with petrol because Caltex, Shell, Mobil and BP are all oil chains! In a prefect world, it sounds like a good idea, but in reality its a rather pointless exercise. I’m not going to go out of my way to go to Starbucks, but if it is there, I’m not going to go out of my way to avoid it either. They couldn’t care less because for every person who hates a chain store, there would be plenty more who prefer the convenience.

One thing I do look forward to is trying out other coffee places in Gungahlin for a decent brew. Any suggestions?

Mr Evil said :

Starbucks is typical Western bourgeoisie, and they exploit gay people!

No Evil, they keep the gay people down because gay people won’t produce another generation of wage slaves to pull the levers on the coffee machines and toil away in the whipped cream mines.

To further the cause of choice and righteous capitalism, I present to you the South Park episode ‘Gnomes’.

http://www.southparkzone.com/episodes/217/Gnomes.html

In this episode, Tweek’s father’s coffee shop is in danger of being overrun by ‘Harbucks’.

Starbucks is typical Western bourgeoisie, and they exploit gay people!

Starbucks is typical of the Western bourgeoisie, and they exploit gay people!

its a perfect example of why Australia was built on beer. Irreverent genius.

Now piss off and have a beer jakez, you nancy boy.

Go away you American arse wipe pigdog sort of people…

Seriously, it is, or was rather, a shop that sold coffee.

that’s it. Nothing more….

Umm, what?

Jesus, i must be old. i didnt realise that coffee was more than just a f**king drink.

I second thumper, go to the local, have a beer and throw a couple of bucks on the dishlickers.

another beautiful example of American entrepreunership and ingenuity

And in what is turning out to be a bad week for the universe, I agree with Ralph.

lounging around on their Ikea furniture trying to be American

You are not being opressed by flatpack furniture.

RuffnReady said :

McDonald’s/Hungry Jacks/KFC are a lot worse than Starbucks ever was in this town, and I see kids eating that shit all the time. Isn’t that more of a concern than running one Starbucks outlet out of town? McDonald’s in particular must soak up 10s of millions of dollars from local businesses whilst pedaling horrible food that sets up poor eating patterns for a life time to kids not even old enough to make conscious decisions about what they are eating… hook them at 2 and you’ve got them for life, as the McDonald’s marketing memo said…

Gee and here I was thinking I was making a conscious decision and grateful for them providing the option…

McDonald’s et al are merely providing a service that the punters want. If you want to blame someone, blame the customer. I hope you have private health insurance though because you’ll probably cop a fair few whacks to the nose.

Natasha Stoat Destroyer?

Yup, media tart to the fullest extent…

NSD has a lot in common with Starbucks: luke warm, p1ssweak and lacking any real substance.

Not a wind-up at all.

There isn’t enough Mon-Fri foot traffic in Gungahlin for all these shops and cafes. The Central Cafe will probably do well because they do good, normal, food and will probably get the tradies flowing through during the week.

Gungahlin Al said :

We have been discussing with some business operators the idea of forming a GCC Commerce Committee to bring the business people together.

I think that’s a fantastic idea, and I hope it goes ahead.

😉 Loving your work V8! haha

one thing that annoys me is coffee snobs slagging Starbucks for the simple reason it is a chain store.

No, I hate *uckbucks because of their shit methods of shutting down small business! Yes, I’ve unfortunately tried the slop they serve as coffee. There has been the odd occasion that a friend who loves Starbucks wants to go there, and I don’t put up any fuss because I don’t want to make them feel shit about it – but if you think their coffee is better than a little local joint, you need your taste buds checked.

Yet another tragic example of vulnerable international franchises being bullied out of town by unconscionable small business. Citizens of Canberra – I implore you to head down to your local KFC for lunch.

I love my coffee, and I know the difference between a good and bad coffee, and one thing that annoys me is coffee snobs slagging Starbucks for the simple reason it is a chain store. I’d like to know how many of them have actually tried their coffee. In my opinion, Starbucks is the best chain coffee store around. It runs circles around Gloria Jeans. I always enjoyed my weekend coffee at Gungahlin or Brand Depot Starbucks. I will miss it.

In related news, Gungahlin stores seem to be disappearing at a very fast rate. Devine Pita and Billy Baxters have recently closed and now Starbucks. Its not looking good.

The Double-Decker Bus! Never had coffee there but they did great Coke Spiders!

“Starbucks is another beautiful example of American entrepreunership and ingenuity. It’s not the world’s greatest country by accident.”

Gag, cough, splutter…
You’re winding us up right? Surely?

Yes there have been a worrying number of shop closures in Gungahlin.
GCC exec were discussing this overnight and believe a contributor could be some of the rental prices.

And that is much the same as the residential land issue – starved of supply, the land prices (and thus rentals) are some of the highest around.
One of our people wanted an office in Gungahlin for his business, but those available were more expensive than Civic!

To a certain degree the supply has slowed because we are awaiting the outcome of the Town Centre Planning Study. No-one is going to sell land with a 4-storey zoning when they could sell it in a few months with 8-storey allowed.

But I understand we are unlikely to see the study finalised prior to the election. So no resolution expected any time soon…

We have been discussing with some business operators the idea of forming a GCC Commerce Committee to bring the business people together.

Agree with Woody (universe begins to implode in 3, 2, 1….)

It’s just coffee, it tasted fine to me.

Starbucks is another beautiful example of American entrepreunership and ingenuity. It’s not the world’s greatest country by accident. If only we had some of what they have in Australia…

The time is right for a revival of the concept of The Coffee Shop In A Double-Decker Bus.

You can’t imagine my excitement to hear that Star*ucks was closing on the news yesterday. I was almost disappointed I didn’t have the chance to place this post first (damn you and your 25/7 job JB 😉 My title was going to read “So long Starbacks…Now…McDonalds?”. I sincerely hope McDonalds is next. The fact that a giant corporation like Starcraps is having to shut up shop is very encouraging – not to mention a long time coming for small business. It’s about time that their method of opening multiple outlets in one area to close down the local business’ and monopolise, then scale back to one franchise – backfired on them.

I’ve never understood people piling into these carbon-copy coffee chains, paying top dollar for shit coffee, and lounging around on their Ikea furniture trying to be American!? Stay at home, chill out on your lounge and drink nicer coffee (and save about $4 per cup of coffee). With cafe’s like Essen, Gus’ etc Canberra has never needed these crap chains!

Now…McDonalds

So we had four?
I stand corrected. Shows just how sneaky they were with their expansion…or how poor their marketing was…or how little I cared 😉

bigfeet said :

Been a few closures at Gungahlin lately Al….

Billy Baxters, some framing shop, the fish shop at the entrance, Mama Spice, that Pita shop (i think), the dodgy asian style bargain basement that lasted about a week, my bone cafe and I’m sure a couple of others.

Any ideas why?

Oh and on the subject of Starbucks, I had nothing against them as a corporation, I wouldn’t care if a coffee shop was run by Japanese whale torturers, or by blind little old ladies. If they made good coffee, I would go there. But Starbucks never made good coffee. Warm dishwater was about the best they could come up with.

The Central Cafe is opening soon where Billy Baxters used to be.

The Canberra Times is running the following article on the local Starbucks closures:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/starbucks-stops-here-act-pain-as-jobs-cut/1229719.aspx

Depending on how the outlets will be closed (that is whether fittings and equipment will be returned to the corporate “entity” or sold off at auction) there could be an opportunity for some enterprising business person(s) to take over leases, equipment and fittings and start their own cafe business. Either way the ACT impact is quite substantial as at least 50 people will now be left without immediate employment.

minime2 said :

Post #21 bigfeet (little brain) if you pay attention to previous posts: My Bone Cafe did not go broke, nor severely affected by roadworks, but rather the family had their parents come to Australia from Hong Kong, and the old folk did not want to live in Canberra. They moved on to the big smoke to set up shop again. This is repeat info.

I don’t recall saying they went broke? All I said was that they closed. Please forgive me if I have not read every single post on Riot Act since it started. I’ll take myself out the back and give me a stern beating. Ok?

And when this family moved to the big smoke, did they take all the other businesses I have mentioned?

Or are there other posts on them that I should be aware of as well?

I liked the black coffee on ice, but then they hid that option.
We have a stronger coffee culture than they allowed for, likewise no Starbucks in Italy.

There’s already a big yellow DA sign outside the store near the merry-go-round. haha…

Post #21 bigfeet (little brain) if you pay attention to previous posts: My Bone Cafe did not go broke, nor severely affected by roadworks, but rather the family had their parents come to Australia from Hong Kong, and the old folk did not want to live in Canberra. They moved on to the big smoke to set up shop again. This is repeat info.

Starbucks Gunghalin was never really popular with the better competition around.

I work shift work so have tried all the Gunghalin places for my p.m. “morning” coffee, and now reside at Gloria Jeans. Norally I would not do this,(especially Belco Mall as it is an armpit of a place) but Ian and his staff are very good at what they do, and the sun shines in beautifully. The “Grocer” around the corner wants $4.70 for an ordinary size and ordinary tasting coffee – they’ll be next! The ambiance of The G ruins Michelle’s and only visiting Charnies go to Donut King. (If you do not believe that, sit and what the demographic of the customer base). Fruitalicious is good, and they now have a smorgasboard Wed and sat. But at least the Queabyan cafe will be open soon; and, another repeat – probably the only Australian food offering in the strip. Still, the BEST coffee is the organic place at Belco Markets.

i maintain, whilst being overpriced, they still make better hot chocolate than practically any cafe around the place. it’s at least chocolate-ey and sweet. not just milk with half a spoon of nesquik as most places seem to be these days.

aaa+++, would buy again

I second comment #17

iCanberran said :

Not a day too soon I might say. Bitter, burnt, tasteless (yet awful tasting as well) murky swill.
Now, if they can take Gloria Jeans and Coffee Guru with them… yes!

Quite a number of the staff though are young students though so I do sympathise for them.

Do you realise that Guru is a Canberra company? And their coffee is pretty good, as a person who spends about $40 a week on coffee they make a very smooth long black. Up there with Gods at ANU.

The Gungahlin town centre is struggling because we have no offices nearby to help support the businesses. I am getting pretty sick of watching my favourite local cafes and shops close down.

Went to Starbucks once never again – bad coffee- It’s a shame Billy Baxter’s is/has closed.

There was also one in the Canberra Centre

I’m suprised that Starbucks lasted as long as it did: the coffee was average, the service was very slow and the prices high. The only times I ever went there was when I was working overtime on Sundays and the Garema Court store was the only coffee shop open at lunch in the area.

I liked the manuka one, it was a good shop, however it closed due to huge rent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iMgSNrwv4

Been a few closures at Gungahlin lately Al….

Billy Baxters, some framing shop, the fish shop at the entrance, Mama Spice, that Pita shop (i think), the dodgy asian style bargain basement that lasted about a week, my bone cafe and I’m sure a couple of others.

Any ideas why?

Oh and on the subject of Starbucks, I had nothing against them as a corporation, I wouldn’t care if a coffee shop was run by Japanese whale torturers, or by blind little old ladies. If they made good coffee, I would go there. But Starbucks never made good coffee. Warm dishwater was about the best they could come up with.

So we had four?

– Brand Depot
– Gungahlin
– Garema Place
– Manuka

Shows how popular they were…

One at Gungahlin too.
One prime main street corner block going cheap…

but we had what, ONE?
Two, actually – there’s one at Brand Depot.

Can’t say I’m sorry either – I agree they had comfy couches, but seating alone does not a good cafe make.

Yeah, but she was hot.

Their coffee was crap, but Starbucks sure annoyed all the people who deserved to be annoyed.

Remember how Natasha Stott Despoja opened the first Starbucks in Australia? Frappucinno in one hand and Naomi Klein in the other. Talk about a media tart!

Hooray for small business!
Dont worry about the staff y’all…they will be happily absorbed into a seriously understaffed and underskilled local hospitality industry.

*shrug* Tasted all right to me. But then maybe I can see that coffee is just a drink, and I don’t feel the need to rail against a company to maintain my jaded hipster image.

Starbucks was crap. This town way too sophisticated. Maybe they should have put Starbucks at Charny.

As one who went there only when others insisted, I’d have to agree with those who thought the coffee stank. I hope the pleasant and hardworking young people get jobs somewhere, but perhaps not involving coffee. They deserved a better product. And so did we.

I never had their coffee, but I absolutely adored their frappaccinos, especially the green tea one. RIP Canberra Starbucks 🙁

I’m as disappointed by the homogeneity of franchise culture as the next rational man, and it’s annoying to have a Starbucks on every corner like they do in Japan, but we had what, ONE? What’s the big deal?

McDonald’s/Hungry Jacks/KFC are a lot worse than Starbucks ever was in this town, and I see kids eating that shit all the time. Isn’t that more of a concern than running one Starbucks outlet out of town? McDonald’s in particular must soak up 10s of millions of dollars from local businesses whilst pedaling horrible food that sets up poor eating patterns for a life time to kids not even old enough to make conscious decisions about what they are eating… hook them at 2 and you’ve got them for life, as the McDonald’s marketing memo said…

Another cafe else might buy up the site, although I’m guessing the fittings will go through a central clearing system.

Coffee = bad… yes.

Unfortunately, they did have the most comfy places to sit (for extended periods) and read while sipping something caffeinated. Great people watching location in Garema Place.

While I make a better coffee at home, I for one, will miss them.

There are a few reports today about the yanks getting all moist in the loins over these Clover machines.

But seriously, would you (as apparently the Clover machine partons are doing) line up around a city block just for a cup of coffee in a styrofoam or whatever cup? I’d personally just do what I do now: chuck a few scoops of Tradefair coffee into the plunger, or go to the local independent barista (whom I hope will now benefit from the demise of Starbucks and also pick up any ex-Starbucks workers).

Not a huge fan of Starbucks myself. Hopefully the local employees can transition to cafes and take away coffee shops around town.

I was anticipating that we might have seen the Clover Coffee machine that they were deploying in the US – a sophisticated version of a French press:

http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/16-08/mf_clover

With a name like Starbucks, it is more likely to be Battlestar Galactica…

Did we have a Starbucks ?

Capitalism at work. It’s like natural selection, but for businesses.

Not a day too soon I might say. Bitter, burnt, tasteless (yet awful tasting as well) murky swill.
Now, if they can take Gloria Jeans and Coffee Guru with them… yes!

Quite a number of the staff though are young students though so I do sympathise for them.