Durango – An ugly spree of anti-corporate vandalism at the new Starbucks Coffee shop has created a backlash in town – an outpouring of support for the bean behemoth from mug-wielding locals and the owners of mom-and-pop coffee shops.
In mid-April, soon after Starbucks opened on Main Avenue, a vandal attacked the storefront window, first by urinating on it and later by spray-painting: “Go back to Seattle, you corporate scum.”
The next week, someone shattered the window.
The episodes actually have locals treating Starbucks like something of an underdog.
Joe Lloyd, owner of Durango Joe’s coffeehouse, sent a big bouquet of sunflowers and daisies with a “Hang in there” message to Starbucks manager Traci Moriarty.
Business actually picked up after the vandalism, with many new customers specifying that they were there to show support during this difficult time, employees said.
Moriarty, like many local managers for big corporations, could not comment. Denver-based Starbucks spokesman Phil Smith said vandalism is rare at the stores, but it’s hard on local employees when it does occur. However, he said, “We are extremely happy about the community response.”
The Steaming Bean Coffee Co., a fixture of Durango, Gunnison and Telluride, removed its countertop supply of bumper stickers upon learning that people were sticking them to Starbucks’ window.
Bob Wolff, a part-owner of a local coffee shop called Regular Joe’s, was one of many locals who spoke out publicly on Starbucks’ behalf. He said he studied the competition and learned that Starbucks is one of the most socially and environmentally progressive corporations in the land. He bought stock.
“It is very clear that whoever was responsible for the mischief at Starbucks made some wrong assumptions about big corporations and Starbucks,” said Bob Kunkel, who heads up business development for the city of Durango.
Across the street from Starbucks, Thomas Barnes, a maker of custom saddles and cowboy hats, has to take his hat off to Starbucks.
“We love it,” he said, as he sucked down a Starbucks Breakfast Blend. “It brings the tourist traffic down to our end of the street.”
At first he was peeved that cup-carrying visitors to his stores were slopping Mocha Frappuccinos Affogato Style all over his $16,000 silver-studded saddles. He put up a sign banning food and drinks in the store but soon had to relent.
“It was dead in here,” Barnes said. “A lot of our high-end clients are Starbucks drinkers.”
The crimes against Starbucks left Kunkel and Chamber of Commerce officials scratching their heads because it wasn’t the first big chain to move into historic downtown Durango. Main Avenue features many homegrown eateries, shops and several coffee purveyors, but also includes Domino’s Pizza, Subway and Cold Stone Creamery. More than 20 brand-name businesses, from banks to real estate brokers, are in the central business district, Kunkel said.
And Durango has exported chains of its own. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has spread from its birthplace here to 283 stores in cities across the United States and Canada.
But Starbucks, whose new Durango store is one of 1,500 it expects to open in 2005, is a symbol of inescapable corporate culture in a downtown holding its own in terms of local character, mused several coffee drinkers at another establishment. But they said they don’t condone the vandalism.
“The most successful downtowns have the right mixture of small and big, local and national companies,” Kunkel said.
Lloyd said that Durango Joe’s business hasn’t been hurt by Starbucks. In fact, it forced him to raise his game.
“When Starbucks comes in, you get all your ducks in a row. You make sure your service is above par and your quality is superb.”
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or edraper@denverpost.com.
