Starbucks closing in Hilo Borders

[LaurelJ]

Hotcatz, got it right, way too expensive and ALL their coffee is over roasted. If I had to make a choice I'd go for Pete's coffee a much better brew than Starbucks ever was. Fact is if you all invest in your own espresso maker you can brew a WONDERFUL cup for about $.50 once you pay off the machine and Nespresso has some relatively inexpensive machines, and since I bought my own I almost never go into a Starbucks anymore.

[missydog1]

well, coming from Berkeley, I went to Peets for years before they expanded to anyplace else. Their coffee is all dark roasted too, but is much better than Starbucks.

I don't go to Borders to drink coffee. I make my own coffee at home. Sometime out of Peets [8D] and sometimes local grown and sometimes fair trade, or a mix thereof.

When I go to the Starbucks, if anything I get a Chai Latte, because I can't drink high test in the latter half of the day.

The people who work there are very nice and live locally. I'm sorry they're losing their jobs because the parent company overextended itself.

By the way, Starbucks (which I used to hate on principle and boycott when I lived in Berkeley, out of loyalty to Peets) has a very nice service policy. They adopted it officially not too long ago. Which is -- they encourage you to customize any drink you order to have it exactly the way you want it, and no attitude from the baristas.

While I'm not one of those people they satirize on Frasier who has to use ten words to describe their latte, it's nice to encounter people who can deal with going off-formula.

More than I can say of most counter workers around here. And they smile ...

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by KathyH...

well, coming from Berkeley, I went to Peets for years before they expanded to anyplace else. Their coffee is all dark roasted too, but is much better than Starbucks...

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We used to get peet's when I lived in So Cal 20+ years ago! A very good cup of coffee it made! It can handle a dark roasting.

Then I found out that the Jamaican Blue mountain peaberry we were purchasing from Peet's at then $17.50/lb is the same bean they are now growing up the Hamakua Coast!! YAH!!

[rusty h]

i bought a expresso machine for $35 from fred meyers, got my coffee from hilo mill company and make my own mocha's. it took a little while but i can now make a pretty mean expresso or mocha.

beats 4.75 anyday. my wife will make one for me once in a while. but i can understand the peacefulness of buying a drink and sitting down to read at the book store.

[missydog1]

>>>i can understand the peacefulness of buying a drink and sitting down to read at the book store.

yeah, it's not about the drink ... I can make whatever I want at home too.
a) at home I'm surrounded by "things to do" and it's not very relaxing.
If I had lived in this house a long time and weren't in the throes of fixing it up, it would probably be easier to curl up with a book.

b) when I go to Hilo to do several errands, it's nice to take a break.

c) it's an interesting social place ... I just like the vibe there. There are a lot of regulars, and you can split your time between scanning a bunch of expensive books you can't afford to buy and chatting. People play Scrabble, and meet with each other, and you can people watch.

It has NOTHING to do with the coffee, for me. Now if you're talking about the to go window at the Kilauea Starbucks -- yes, that is a question of paying 2-5 bucks for a drink and not the most economical, and I have never done it, although my realtor friend loves the convenience of driving through so she can perk up before driving back to the other side.

I guess it's a lifestyle background thing with me to go to a coffee shop and view the price of the drink as a price of "admission." Back when I lived in rural Mendocino in the 70's, everyone lived in shacks, didn't entertain, and if you wanted to see people you went to town and hung out. That was before the town was too full of tourists to have local hangouts.

Then at Berkeley, going to Cal, we were always going to coffee shops to meet friends, grade papers, conference, kill time between classes ... and I miss that. Yep, this is the closest thing I've found in Hilo ... ironic, because when I lived in Berkeley I thought it was selling out to go down to Emeryville and go to Borders! Borders was driving out local booksellers! Borders AND Starbucks -- that would be like supporting Satan/1 [8D]

But here, no one local is doing the great book shop, so I don't feel bad at all about going to Borders. Without them it would be a void.

[frossie]

Ok people, stay calm. There was always coffee store in the Hilo Borders from the day it opened, long before Starbucks got here. At least 2 if not 3 operators had the concession before then. In fact the first operator was the best, as they had food, including a reasonably edible bean burger.

I'm sure the local Borders manager will line somebody up sooner or later.

[missydog1]

The one in Kona still has food ... and works through Borders, uses the Border Rewards. It would be nice to see it integrated again.

It's only the transition that I'm bemoaning. It took MONTHS last time, but maybe that was because Starbucks chose to remodel, so looking on the bright side, I hope the next concession has relatively fast move-in time.

[missydog1]

Sunday is the last day.

Seatlle's Best is opening on Jan 26th.

For two weeks, no concession at Borders. []

[Devany]

Kathy, Basically Books is a great little book store, locally owned and with their own publishing company (Petroglyph Press). What they are lacking is the place to sit and chat and read... no couches etc. But their book selection is really great for such a small shop and the people there are very helpful. They also have an amazing map selection. I would say if you are going to actually BUY a book (or map or music), that is where you should go! I equate Borders to Home Depot, sometimes you just have to go there to get what you need, but there are local alternatives for many things.

quote:

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Originally posted by KathyH

>>>Then at Berkeley, going to Cal, we were always going to coffee shops to meet friends, grade papers, conference, kill time between classes ... and I miss that. Yep, this is the closest thing I've found in Hilo ... ironic, because when I lived in Berkeley I thought it was selling out to go down to Emeryville and go to Borders! Borders was driving out local booksellers! Borders AND Starbucks -- that would be like supporting Satan/1 [8D]

But here, no one local is doing the great book shop, so I don't feel bad at all about going to Borders. Without them it would be a void.

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Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

Devany Vickery-Davidson
East Bay Potters
www.eastbaypotters.com

[macuu222]

I just wonder why Starbucks is moving out of Borders in the first place. They seem to be always very busy in there. Busier than the Starbucks across the street in Puainako Mall which isn't being closed.