Starbucked
We’ve been Starbucked.
We came home from our vacation to gaze upon the newly stylish façade of the coffeehouse that opened a few blocks from our house. And that Open Hearth, the independent coffee shop where I frequently sit and write, had abruptly closed. The two events were unrelated, but still sad.
The last time that Aaron and I were Starbucked, we were living in a condo in Evanston. I had bought it back when I was single and few people wanted to live in that part of Evanston. This made the real estate there relatively cheap. After a Starbucks opened on Main Street, the neighborhood really changed. Between Starbucks and strong home sales, the housing prices skyrocketed. Apartment buildings up and down the block went condo. Huge new condo skyscrapers were built that turned Chicago Avenue into a canyon of concrete.
The streets became cleaner. Upscale specialty shops moved in. Many of our old neighbors left. The neighborhood became more homogeneous in race, age and income. I worked out of the condo during the day after we were Starbucked and I noticed that everyone seemed to leave in the morning and come home late at night. When I walked our dog in the late morning, I didn’t run into many people anymore. Unless they were professional dog walkers.
And this is where I really struggle. I don't mind Starbucks. I think that they seem to help independent coffee shops become even more popular (as per this research study). And I'd rather have a Starbucks than a McDonald's, to be honest. As a homeowner, I like my home’s value going up. But I’d like for our friends to be able to purchase a home in this neighborhood which is quickly becoming out of the financial reach of any average person. I like clean streets and fun shops. But I like my current neighbors and the diversity of people living here and affordability more.
It's a bitter latte to swallow.
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Comments
That's awful about Open Hearth! My girls and I were hoping to spend some more mornings with you and Grace there. Guess North Park is going the way of Lincoln Square. Are $1M houses just a matter of time? I have very mixed feelings about the whole change on the Northside too. I was talking to someone who was looking for a house in my neighborhood, and she said "We're looking for a new house." It hit me that's the difference between us and the newer people--one of the reasons we chose the city was specifically to live in an old house.
Posted by: Jane | July 24, 2007 12:09 PM
That's too bad about your coffee shop closing, Jeanne. I'd really grieve the loss of my favorite independent neighborhood businesses.
These neighborhood changes are tough. If there is a spill-proof lid or java jacket for Starbuckization, I don't know what they are.
Posted by: Josh | July 24, 2007 1:17 PM
i feel your pain. i went through it in bucktown and then again in logan square. i agree, it is a bitter latte to swallow.
Posted by: kiki | July 24, 2007 10:31 PM