Pharmacy hinted for new VyStar parking garage Downtown

[jaxjaguar]

If you count that Starbucks you have to count the chic fil a too   

[thelakelander]

They do take all types of green money and the coffee tastes the same. It's really no different from a Starbucks being inside of a college campus or mall food court. They are just in a spot that has consistent foot traffic and accessibility to a concentrated population. Downtown would be better if it can replicate the type of density that the medical campus has.

[Zac T]

Of all the complaints I've heard from people about downtown, not having a Starbucks has only come up on this forum. Nobody I've talked to has ever mentioned it

[Captain Zissou]

If you count that Starbucks you have to count the chic fil a too   

The CFA is now a firehouse subs.

[Steve]

Of all the complaints I've heard from people about downtown, not having a Starbucks has only come up on this forum. Nobody I've talked to has ever mentioned it

I don't know if I'm personally upset about not having a Starbucks, but Starbucks IS a pretty decent bellwether of traffic in an area (both car and foot). Like Waffle House being open during a hurricane, not having a Starbucks in an area is a pretty good sign of a lacking economic base.

[jaxjaguar]

^this. I don't even drink coffee, but it's a good indicator of the health of an area. Similarly when I see a lot of big name brand hotels AND their subsidiaries in a downtown that's a sign an area is doing well. The fact that there are only 2 hotels on the northbank (3 if you count the new Brooklyn one) is pretty telling.

[thelakelander]

Its pretty obvious downtown isn't vibrant. We don't need Starbucks to tell us that. 10 or 15 years ago, we had two. DT was more vibrant then too.

There are several projects under construction that when complete, will help. Let's circle back to this discussion after a few of them open.

[MusicMan]

It's not logical to count the Starbucks in Baptist. It makes no attempt to reach anyone other than the staff that walks by (or patients and their families).  It has no exterior signage either. Not even a "sandwich board" that I am aware of. Unlike the one at SM Square or in Riverside... highly visible in primo locations.

"If you are drinking Starbucks, you are drinking terrible coffee anyway."

Once again, not supported by the facts that Starbucks is the #1 coffee retailer in the world. Those pesky repeat customers!

It's also been a great investment for many shareholders.

DT Jax has Berkman II, lots of surface parking lots, vacant lots, and empty public owned spaces, but no Starbucks.  I'm thinking there is a correlation. And like many other people I like the coffee.  We had a great Bold Bean in San Marco, it co-existed with Starbucks not too far away.


ANYWAY..... my original comment was meant as a joke that Starbucks could be branded as a Caffeine dispensary..... a drug store of sorts.

[Captain Zissou]

"If you are drinking Starbucks, you are drinking terrible coffee anyway."

Once again, not supported by the facts that Starbucks is the #1 coffee retailer in the world. Those pesky repeat customers!

Number one burger retailer in the world: McDonald's
Number one pizza retailer in the world: Pizza Hut
Number one sandwich retailer in the world: Subway
Number one taco retailer in the world:  Taco Bell

Your argument that popularity equals quality really holds up.

[MusicMan]

Captain, go to Starbucks in San Marco and tell the folks who walk in this Saturday morning they're drinking terrible coffee. Let me know how that goes.  Hell its way more expensive than its rivals, and still outsells them.  But enough with reality....

[JaGoaT]

Jax needs a Waffle House downtown lol

[Zac T]

Jax needs a Waffle House downtown lol

Now THIS I agree with. I visited the downtown Birmingham Waffle House on multiple occasions when I was working there as it was the only restaurant open late at night. It was located next to the UAB hospital and campus which reminded me a lot of Baptist's campus on the Southbank.

I assume the main reason we don't have a WH is because we don't have enough traffic to support the 24 hour operation although despite being adjacent to UAB, I found that part of Downtown Birmingham no more or less vibrant than DT Jax at similar times of the night.