The Observation Deck

The hot talk up and down Detroit Avenue yesterday afternoon was, "Is Starbucks coming to Lakewood?"

Than answer is a strong maybe.

According to Starbucks Corporate, there are no plans to move Burger King out.

In the old is a yet unnamed Hair Salon, this will now mirror, the strongest duo right across the street Root Café and Tease Hair Salon, both locally owned, operated and legends in this town.


Location circled in red

When ask for a comment, Julie Hutchison, owner of Root replied, "What size coffee do you want Jim."

Bobby Breitenstein also an owner of Root, just smiled.

This city has a massive love for home based business, and has been proven time and time again a perfect incubator for small businesses wishing to grow. Prime examples Melt, Aladdin's, and the Observer. But the movers and shakers seem to have a deep seated love and yearning for big box chains like Quaker Steak and Lube, 5 Guys, Dollar General, Family Dollar, places they covet and desperately want nearby.

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City Hall is filled with corporate thinkers -- not innovators or entrepreneurs -- so this is what we should expect.
The fixation with national chains is especially odd considering that other local coffee shops have opened in recent months. Starbucks is no threat to Root, but it could cut the legs out from the fledgling new businesses.
I'm willing to bet that City Hall hasn't spend half the time engaging Root and the new businesses that it has courting Starbucks/Caribou over the years.

Michael Deneen wrote:City Hall is filled with corporate thinkers -- not innovators or entrepreneurs -- so this is what we should expect.
The fixation with national chains is especially odd considering that other local coffee shops have opened in recent months. Starbucks is no threat to Root, but it could cut the legs out from the fledgling new businesses.
I'm willing to bet that City Hall hasn't spend half the time engaging Root and the new businesses that it has courting Starbucks/Caribou over the years.

Starbucks fits into the whole idea of “upscale” that the city is seeking.

Not gonna be too upscale with carjackings, shootings and drug overdoses.

How about this latest shooting incident on Clifton Prado?

City has lost its direction. Shopping is NOT going to save us.

In some far away countries, criminals are executed, can you imagine? You only get one chance, to f__k up, by committing a small crime, after the 2nd minor crime, then you gone, shoplifting, you loose a hand, how beautifully safe our community would be. Depending on the offence, the more violent crimes, one chance, gone, rape, murder, molestation, felony assault, and so many others. We could then relax, forgetting to lock our cars at night, it's not a problem.

I welcome Starbucks, the most popular hot spot will win the support of the community. I hope they all succeed, we will see.

The Burger King never impressed me, too tight, squeezed in between other more proximate businesses', it could be put to better use?

Since Starbucks moved on Clifton into their new location, traffic going to the drive-thru often backs up to 117th. Since the Burger King drive-thru window is already a disaster, I cannot imagine how bad the traffic would be with a Starbucks drive-thru window.

Kate McCarthy wrote:Since Starbucks moved on Clifton into their new location, traffic going to the drive-thru often backs up to 117th. Since the Burger King drive-thru window is already a disaster, I cannot imagine how bad the traffic would be with a Starbucks drive-thru window.

That section of Detroit is very congested. The newer traffic pattern and single lanes have made driving down that street very unenjoyable. I avoid it.

Here's what I'll miss about the Detroit Road Burger King: when the grandkids come over and I take them for a walk around town -- Kauffman playground, library, Drug Mart-- I find BK a good place to take them as they won't annoy anyone there. While I get them a cookie and ice cream (never the regular food items), I get a coffee.

I can't imagine that Starbucks won't convert that site. I don't think the corporation's business plan calls for operating a Burger King in Lakewood, Ohio. The drive-thru bears watching. Maybe there's a loophole like the one Taco Bell used.

I also can't imagine ever preferring Starbucks to the Root. It's the center of Lakewood as far as I'm concerned, and it's telling that Starbucks would want to locate near the Root.

All very good ""common sense"" opinions, you made me stop and think, the traffic, not looking forward to that. I think the area is too congested already.

That section of Detroit is very congested. The newer traffic pattern and single lanes have made driving down that street very unenjoyable. I avoid it.

Wrong thread, but I so agree. I avoid Madison and Detroit like the freaking plague now. Whoever had the idea to force a single lane at the lights should be fired!

todd vainisi wrote:

That section of Detroit is very congested. The newer traffic pattern and single lanes have made driving down that street very unenjoyable. I avoid it.

Wrong thread, but I so agree. I avoid Madison and Detroit like the freaking plague now. Whoever had the idea to force a single lane at the lights should be fired!

Right thread as one reason Starbucks wants that building, no doubt, is the existing drive-thru window, which if I recall correctly from the Taco Bell "rebuilding" is the only way they can have a drive-thru. The drive-thru there aggravates the congestion.

Maybe someone else can explain the drive-thru restriction.

Dan Alaimo wrote:
Maybe someone else can explain the drive-thru restriction.

Short answer : Unless you are one of the existing 32 drive-throughs in Lakewood that existed prior to Jan 18,2012 it is difficult to just come into Lakewood and put up drive-throughs for a new business.

https://patch.com/ohio/lakewood-oh/driv ... ty-council


This was partly a reaction to McDonald's able to just come in and put in a double drive-through next to a residential area where a drive-through did not previously exist. So, for Starbucks, it is easier to buy a location that already has a drive-through than to do anything else.