1.1 min readBy Published On: August 1st, 2016Categories: News5 Comments on Starbucks War Continues

So the first Starbucks battle may have been won but it appears that war is not over. Starbucks is still fighting to open at the vacant space at the corner of L and East Broadway.  The Seattle based coffee chain has been granted another hearing for a common victualler license on August 17th at 10am at City Hall.  Back in May, the CV license for the future Starbucks was denied.

In addition to some neighborhood opposition, Mayor Marty Walsh, City councilors Michael Flaherty and Michelle Wu and State Sen. Linda Dorcena-Forry were also against it.  The reason?  There are already too many coffee shops in that neighborhood. Other reasons for opposition ranged from traffic, double parking and potential to hurt small independent coffee shops.  City Councilor Bill Linehan has showed support for the Starbucks in the past.

The space at 749 East Broadway has already been approved for zoning for a restaurant but needs this license to operate.  According the city’s website“Every food service establishment in the City of Boston with capabilities for cooking, preparing and serving food is required to have a Common Victualler License.”   

Another community meeting will be held on August 15th at the Tynan Community Center at 6:30pm.   And we’d have to imagine it will be a doozy!

5 Comments

  1. Steve August 2, 2016 at 12:53 am - Reply

    Yes – government should determine the number of coffee shops in a specific region. Not silly things like competition or demand for coffee. Sheesh. What kind of carnage would unfold upon us poor folks in Southie if a new coffee shop opened in a vacant building….

  2. unclefestus August 2, 2016 at 12:14 pm - Reply

    Isn’t L and Broadway down a coffee shop ever since Bailey’s closed? Wouldn’t Starbucks fill the loss of that shop.
    I can see the City being concerned with too many bars in a small area, but not coffee shops.

  3. Charlie August 2, 2016 at 2:34 pm - Reply

    Thank you Steve. If there isn’t enough demand for a Starbucks, then it won’t survive long, will it? I’m sick of our politicians meddling in which businesses are “worthy” enough. They should be making it easy for new businesses to open, not arbitrarily deciding winners and losers.

  4. Jim August 2, 2016 at 9:05 pm - Reply

    There is a new Dunkin donuts right near by . Why not a Starbucks? They support local communities & it’s a great spot for people to meet up.

  5. Cricket August 2, 2016 at 9:34 pm - Reply

    I want to voice my support for the opening of a new Starbucks at the corner of East Broadway & L Street in South Boston. The real estate located at each of the four corners of this important intersection has been either under-utilized and/or dilapidated for decades. This move will bring a strong, quality retail operation to the neighborhood and demonstrate that East Broadway can join West Broadway and the Seaport District in attracting and supporting important urban destination landmark businesses.
    We want all local businesses to thrive. Everybody knows that Starbucks is a highly visible international brand: they’re good, but they’re certainly not the best. There are hundreds and hundreds of independent operators throughout the country that thrive with a Starbucks in their midst. Like any other business, if a coffee shop operator truly serves a quality product with efficient/friendly service in a clean/pleasant environment…assuming the retail pricing is in line with local market conditions, that operator’s business should be a success…especially since local operators should have historical loyal, community support!
    As in virtually any urban environment, traffic congestion is an ongoing problem in South Boston. On the East Side of South Boston, there are issues with The Sidewalk Cafe (Fourth & M Streets), L Street Diner Take-out (Fifth Street), Tasty Burger & Dunkin Donuts (L Street, between Broadway & Fourth Street) and Java House (Broadway, next to the Courthouse), among others. Some of these traffic congestion issues are so blatant that the business plans of these restaurants must implicitly rely on illegal double parking. It would be beneficial to the neighborhood to have increased parking law enforcement at these hot spots.

Leave A Comment