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Welcome Starbucks

May 31st, 2007 category: North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places, Real Estate News, Real Estate Philosophy, Southold Real Estate

I had my first- in -forever Starbucks Mocha yesterday. At the Featherhill shopping center located in Southold, Long Island, New York, a store has just opened.

While the local community generally eschews the presence of visibly large chains and franchises, my favorite mocha flew under the radar somehow. As a small business owner, I can understand concerns about having large chains and franchises come into town- in addition to disturbing the delicate balance of charming, local venues with potentially garish looking entities that include a drive thru, it poses a genuine risk to the continued sustenance of local companies, not to mention the unique aspect of different shops with different local styles. As an area that experiences a high volume of summer traffic, disturbing the balance is a natural concern.

Interestingly, little is noted about the presence of another huge franchise entity, the Cendant Corporation. Having created a separate company that deals only in real estate, Realogy is the owner of several “local” companies, including Century 21, Corcoran, Sothebys International (Daniel Gale), and both ERA and Coldwell Banker. Quite a handful of New York real estate opportunities.

Agway is a large company, but that doesn’t detract from the wonderful store operated in Southold. The McDonalds in Mattituck gets frequent visitors that have a penchant for occasional fast food. While national drugstores are making an appearance, the Southold Pharmacy serves all of my needs, but perhaps I’ll visit the newly constructed CVS,also located in Mattituck (except, I’m always lured into the Love Lane shops, and find it hard to leave)…and what would we do without King Cullen in Cutchogue, when variety is sought? Large, and neccessary, at least to me.

Will I choose Starbucks over a local coffee provider? Yes, and no. If I want a fabulous mocha, Starbucks has my taste buds to a tee. A chain store rarely offers what the local businesses have to offer, and Starbucks doesn’t change that. It just offers a quality choice when the mocha craving hits-until now, it’s been a treat that’s been missing. That said, absolutely nothing can replace the quality breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and pastries offered in Southold- and I always order orange juice with them anyway.

I lived without Starbucks; I think that my quality of day to day would be compromised without our locally owned breakfast contingent. Another great place to stop, over coffee, and discuss your real estate needs: serving experience in real estate to Riverhead, Jamesport, Aquebogue, Peconic, Laurel, Mattituck, Southold, Cutchogue, Greenport, East Marion, and Orient!