Landing Starbucks to Close

[fonz]

I received some terrible news this morning.  My barista told me they were informed yesterday that the Landing Starbucks would be closing in 30 days.  I asked if they were given a reason why because the store always seems so active.  She was told (and I'm paraphrasing) a lot of businesses are leaving downtown and Starbucks feels being in downtown Jacksonville no longer makes sense.

I'm pretty upset, selfishly because I go there about twice a day, and more importantly, because this is another step back for our city.

[Bativac]

That's a real shame. Having the Starbucks there gave the area a little more "legitimacy" if that makes sense. There are other places downtown to get coffee but downtown certainly doesn't need to lose another business. The Landing REALLY doesn't need it.

[Shwaz]

Sbarro's at the Landing closed down as well... I don't think I've ever seen a Sbarro's close up shop... anywhere.

[fsujax]

so when are we going to hit rock bottom Downtown? this kind of bad news just keeps piling up for Downtown.

[Jimmy]

Wow. 

[Garden guy]

No Starbucks downtown? Is it considered a downtown without one?...i think even lake city  has a starbucks downtown...is there some conspiracy by the outlying business centers to crush downtown? how can other office centers in this city be growing and downtown just withering away?

[Shwaz]

so when are we going to hit rock bottom Downtown? this kind of bad news just keeps piling up for Downtown.

When are we going to open a "Rock Bottom" downtown?

[copperfiend]

I fully expect one weekend to be downtown and see tumbleweeds and hear the music from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

"Hard Rock Bottom", Cowford

[thelakelander]

There's no such thing as remaining status quo.  When you go stagnant, you decline.  The Northbank has been in decline ever since the super bowl circus on Bay Street packed up and left.  This trend won't change until the walkable core becomes a top public priority with the city.

[Duke]

so when are we going to hit rock bottom Downtown? this kind of bad news just keeps piling up for Downtown.

Rock bottom will be when the homeless people leave downtown because it no longer makes sense and the environment starts bringing them down...

[copperfiend]

At least we have a million dollar pocket across the street from the backdoors of the library.

[billy]

is the closest Starbucks now Riverside?

[copperfiend]

Will the last person to leave the Landing please turn out the lights?

[peestandingup]

There's no such thing as remaining status quo.  When you go stagnant, you decline.  The Northbank has been in decline ever since the super bowl circus on Bay Street packed up and left.  This trend won't change until the walkable core becomes a top public priority with the city.

Im not sure that in can at this point. I mean, look how outta control our city boundaries have gotten. For the love of God, Baldwin is considered to be in "the city of Jacksonville". Baldwin! What is even the purpose of that?? Its insane.

Point being, there's simply no reason why most the population in this kind of mess would even want to go downtown. For one thing, its a commute (thanks to our gigantic land mass). And what's there for them that they couldn't get in the suburbs??

There's maybe one or two reason why most people in this place would consider even going downtown I've noticed. A football game, a "one time" even like to watch fireworks, or to go to their office (which is becoming less & less likely these days).

Not that I care about Starbucks, I think they're terrible. But this isn't really about them specifically. It's kind of what they represent.