And speaking of Starbucks (since I’ve already criticized them twice today), have you heard the news about what’s happening with the independent coffee shop in downtown Kirkland called Reality Coffee?
Owner Renee Kappes has been driven out of business–and into over $100,000 of debt–because of the way that Starbucks has handled her franchise agreement.
Now obviously, we don’t know Starbucks’ side of the story on this one, since their media relations department hasn’t responded to questions about Kappes’ story. It certainly seems that they were entirely within their legal rights to treat Ms. Kappes as they did, but from where I’m sitting, it certainly doesn’t look like they were very fair to her.
But no matter what the facts, the fact that Ms. Kappes has been getting so much media attention over the story–she also appeared on the Dave Ross Show on Seattle’s 710 KIRO radio station today–doesn’t look good for Starbucks.
It will be interesting to see how they respond.
Full Disclosure: I have some loyalties to Reality Coffee, since I’ve been visiting that coffee shop since I moved to Kirkland last year. These past few months, it’s become my office away from the office and I’m really going to miss it.
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