Starbucks Expands on Southport, Neighbors Not Pleased

Starbucks may be almost tripling in size on Southport Avenue, but according to one local business owner, the battle in Lake View has just begun.

The Southport Corridor News and Events Facebook page broke the news Nov. 16 about Starbucks’ plans to move across the street next to local coffee house Safari Cup. Starbucks will soon leave its space at 3359 N. Southport Ave. to occupy three storefronts at 3400 N. Southport Ave. by April 2013, a Starbucks representative told DNAinfo Chicago.

But the expansion is anything but good news to Safari Cup’s owner Dave McLaughlin. He says their expansion next door could destroy his business, and just one thing will help him stay afloat.

“It’s incredible,” McLaughlin said. “This is one of the original Starbucks shops in Chicago, and it’s served them well for 20 years, but now they’re going to come back and sit on my back door? It’s incredibly arrogant.”

“There’s a bigger picture here,” McLaughlin continued. “We’re going to have our little David and Goliath battle, but the bigger picture is people need to start buying local. … Let’s do this thing. I’m not running away, but the success will depend on the community and whether they shop locally.”

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McLaughlin, who lives in the community, says if people shop at Safari Cup, they can be sure their money is being invested in the neighborhood. From using a local insurance company to a local bank, he says he’s a big believer in the Shop Local movement.

However, the Starbucks spokesperson told DNAinfo the expansion is a reaction to customers’ demand for more seating. In addition, Starbucks thinks the market for coffee on Southport is strong, and everyone will survive.

And according to Bad Ass Coffee, 3737 N. Southport Ave., the Starbucks representative may have a point.

“It just depends on the kind of coffee people like,” said Bad Ass barista Haley Yelencich. “Some people don’t really love Starbucks, so I don’t know if the demand will rise just because they have a bigger storefront.”

"...This sucks. It’s very selfish, and it’s knocking out our local stores.”

Starbucks acquired three stores at 3400 N. Southport Ave. to make their move, meaning Serda’s Store, She One Boutique and Very Best Cleaners had to move out. Both Very Best Cleaners and She One Boutique have selected other Southport locations, with Serda’s currently holding a closing sale.

That’s “unfortunate” news, according to local resident Jane Westby, who said she didn’t like the idea of Starbucks taking over Serda’s while window shopping the sale items.

But it’s clear the current Starbucks is far too small for Lake View residents, with customers buzzing on both Yelp and Facebook about how packed the coffee shop tends to be.

“The current Starbucks gets WAY too crowded, so hopefully this (expansion) will help,” wrote Sarah Kover on Facebook. “But I hope people don’t stop supporting the smaller coffee chains on Southport.”

Still, everyone at Safari Cup, down to the baristas, is unhappy about their soon-to-be next-door neighbor.

“I don’t speak for the whole company, but this sucks,” said Ian Stillmunks. “It’s very selfish, and it’s knocking out our local stores.”

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