(03-26-2016, 08:56 PM)ac3r Wrote: This is precicely why you wont see Starbucks downtown for a long time. Such chain cafes (which feel like they're more a fast food place) would not do very good downtown firstly because of the small population, but secondly the unique sense of community you get in a city of this size. This is primarily the reason you don't see any (excluding Coffee Culture, I suppose).
Downtown Kitchener has a very noticeable sense of community because of the still modest population. Anyone who spends most of their time down there will know what I mean. There's a closeness to everything and everyone. You run into the same faces and crowds and communities and know what kind of people live and work there. As such, most of the popular cafes are independent and draw people to them because the downtown is - ignoring the universities - the main place in the region for culture and community. They serve as a hub for the arts, music, activism, outreach, etc. Queen Street Commons Cafe is incredibly popular thanks to its philosophy towards work, community, arts, volunteerism. Pyrus shares this atmosphere. Adventurers Guild has become a place for gamers and similar to hang out. Matter of Taste has been down there for so long, too, for these reasons as well.
There is currently no reason why anything like a Starbucks would need or want to open up downtown and frankly, I doubt many people who live and work down there would welcome such a place, unless you really like cheap, bad coffee. They work in larger urban areas because of the sheer amount of people but also within suburbs because of the culture (or lack of) that they are a part of: fast, cheap, easy products.
Firstly - as much as Starbucks pales in comparison to Settlement Co, it's still miles above Timmy's and their new 'dark roast' garbage.
Secondly - Whether you're talking Starbucks or an independent, this is an amazing location! You have to keep in mind that Starbucks typically signs 5-10 year leases when they setup a location - they aren't looking at it for what it is today. Even if it was just what is there today you would have a huge volume of clientele right on your doorstep in 1 Vic and the Kaufman lofts, never mind the Pharmacy school, Tannery and surrounding community. My wife has girlfriends who drive from their houses (in and around the Kitchener downtown) down to Fairway road or up to Waterloo, just to make a visit to Starbucks. The reality is a Starbucks location downtown will be closer in proximity for a lot of people. But looking at 'tomorrow' with the Kings Landing development and the transit hub across this street - this is easily going to be one of the best locations in the city.
Finally - I thought I already dropped a fairly obvious hint that it's not going to be Starbucks -- it's Settlement Co! I stopped into their uptown location on a whim (and was completely blown away by their coffee - they're all about the water they use - as the owner put it, it's 99% of the product they sell and most coffee shops just make their coffee out of crap tap water - Settlement Co distills then re-mineralizes based on a special formula - I'm not expert, but I love my espresso's and cappuccino's, and theirs blew my mind!) and I overheard the owner talking about it. I for one will happily make the trek to this location for their coffee (I presently make the trek to uptown waterloo to treat myself on occasion, and this will be much closer)