Starbucks adds another flavor

National chain opens new store near campus, but students stick with their usual coffeehouses

By Bill J. Perry

Starbucks Coffee opened a store across from the Fresno State campus last week, and it almost went unnoticed by students.

The coffeehouse giant is known for quickly opening stores and taking over the local coffee business because of its upscale coffee blends and trendy beverages. But that hasn’t been the case at Fresno State.

Although an assistant manager at the new Starbucks, located on the southeast corner of Shaw and Woodrow avenues, said the store is doing well, students and employees at campus coffee shops hardly noticed its existence.

“I went that way home the other day and thought, ‘Uh-oh, we’re getting competition now,” said Fred Ramos, a cashier at The Coffeehouse & Pub on campus. “But it hasn’t hurt our sales for coffee or anything. I still get my regulars here every day.”

One of those regulars, student Jordan Vera, agrees.

“I haven’t noticed any decline here at all,” said Vera, an English major, about the crowd at the Pub.
Over at the Coffee Spot, located next to the bowling alley in the University Student Union, the flow of customers also has been business as usual.

“We haven’t felt anything,” said Quinn Cody, the food court manager. “We still get the walk-up customers.”

Even a popular off-campus coffee shop hasn’t been affected by Starbucks.

“Our numbers are still the same,” said Nicole Campos, a shift leader at Uncle Harry’s New York Bagelry, located on the corner of Cedar and Shaw avenues. Campos said students still come in at noon during the busy lunch hour.

According to the Starbucks Web site, the Seattle-based coffeehouse has opened 1,683 stores, bringing the current location number to 7,569. The Web site lists at least 22 stores in the Fresno/Clovis area, in addition to the newest location.

One student, who is aware of the new location, isn’t impressed. He wants nothing to do with the new coffee hangout.

“I’m anti-Starbucks,” said Frank Garibay, an English major. “They’re on every corner. It’s not appealing anymore.”

Other students have their own reasons for their preference of campus coffee locations—convenience and ambiance.

The Pub is where Vera and Post prefer to spend their free time.

“It’s a nice place to come and sit. They do have nice treats to eat, also,” Vera said.

Garibay, who comes to The Pub almost daily, couldn’t agree more.

“[The Pub] is on campus, and it’s got a good atmosphere,” he said. “This is just a cool place.”
But some students do prefer the off-campus location.

“Starbucks is my favorite,” said Sarah Post, a math major, “but I don’t hang out there.”
Vera said she stops there, but only briefly.

“If I’m driving, I’ll get coffee at Starbucks, but then leave.”

Despite the presence of the new Starbucks, Ramos said he’s no longer worried about the Pub’s business.

“We’re still getting new customers,” he said.

Instead of competition, the food court manager sees something positive in the arrival of Starbucks.

“It’s good for the campus,” Cody said. “It keeps people in the area.”