I would much rather see local independent retailers meeting our demand for things like coffee, burgers, and sandwiches rather than multi-national corporations. This would lead to better quality jobs, a stronger more resilient local economy, and less of our pocket money heading overseas unnecessarily.
I agree with you. However, local business didn't measure up to provide competitive products, and it is their own fault, not Starbucks'. If Coffee zone's coffee is aweful and charges the same as Starbucks, why would you blame Starbucks to taking its space? Fact is, consumers want to shop at Starbucks, not Coffee Zone.
Hating big chains for their success is irrational. All business wants to be big and when they do, they "displace" smaller ones. Those "small and independent" retailers would want to be as big as Starbucks too, if you ask their owners. They just were not able to. It is not an evil versus innocent game where smaller business is the victime.
Nobody pushed anybody. It is a fair market. Coffee Zone could pay the rent the landlord is asking, and they didn't. It is like losing a bidding war in house hunting, you can't blame the winner for having more money.
I like better business too, but the fact Coffee Zone can't afford market rent for the location already suggests they are not better business.
While I was in NYC, there is this small burger place at Madison Square called "Shake Shack" which is wildly popular. You usually have to line up for over 30 minutes for a burger anytime of the day. They thrived despite being smaller (a total of 17 stores) and more expensive than McDonald's which is everywhere. They are successful because they offer products big companies fail to and consumers love it. This is what I call
better business.
Just being small and independent doesn't mean it is good. more often than not, they are worse than big chains. I find many here for some reason naively believe small business = good, chains = evil. The world is not that simple. Most small retailers don't actually offer distinguishable products but charge higher price. Should we support them just because they are not chains? There is a small store down my building which essentially sells exactly the same thing as Metro and Sobey's, just at 20% price premium. They have no competitive advantage to speak of other than being close to me. I would not be sad to see them gone if that happens.
Walmarts, Starbucks' advantage are their size. Don't hate them for it. Smaller business should create their own advantage before being able to compete with the big guys. You can't complain that others are able to offer products are lower prices and you can't.