Jackson Free Press

According to WLBT, the Madison Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Hawkins-Butler rallied at the Madison Starbucks, which is slated for closure:

Madison mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler said, "Let's give our Starbucks a fighting chance...and let's show them what we can do in Madison, Mississippi supporting this business by march and maybe we'll get a call to say 'hey, we were wrong, Madison can keep your store.'"

Look -- Starbucks is nice, it's a good company, they have great coffee. But we're in a recession, and fewer people can spend $4 on a cup of coffee; those who do might also want FREE wi-fi, local service, a creative sandwich...who knows? Let 'em choose!

Why not a rally at the Jazz and Java at that same general intersection or the Fusion Coffee House a little further down the street on Highland Colony Parkway or the Kudzu Cafe on Hwy 51 or, for that matter, the Seattle Drip on Grandview that's part of a small chain with its corporate office in freakin' Madison?! Show a little loyalty to the little guy done good from your hometown, maybe?

Is Madison so provincial that it's scared "what the neighbors will think" if their Starbucks dries up?

Previous Comments

ID

133005

Comment

Wow, this cracks me up. I had no idea. So how many people were at this "rally" besides Queen Mary? Such a kick in the crotch to those other local businesses. The irony is, that Starbucks likely will close, thus bringing more business to the other coffee shops. I hope that is exactly what happens.

Author

andi

Date

2008-08-12T20:08:50-06:00

ID

133006

Comment

or, for that matter, the Seattle Drip on Grandview that's part of a small chain with its corporate office in freakin' Madison?! They're based in MS? Seems like she should be talking them into occupying where Starbucks was.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-08-12T20:13:29-06:00

ID

133012

Comment

Is Cups still open over there?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-08-12T20:40:53-06:00

ID

133014

Comment

Donna: Not the one you're thinking off of Madison Ave/463; there is one further south on 51 in Ridgeland. I think that old Cups is now a Seattle Drip location -- (C) in the map if I'm not mistaken. L.W. Yes, Seattle Drip is Madison-based with locations in three states. http://www.seattledrip.com/ If you're like me, the name threw you off. ;-)

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-08-12T20:54:55-06:00

ID

133015

Comment

Cool! I had no idea about Seattle Drip. Thanks once again for the enlightenment! Of course, they can also make their own coffee at home and save a lot of dough. Maybe even enough to come down to Fondren Beverage Emporium or Sal and Mookies!

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2008-08-12T21:02:54-06:00

ID

133021

Comment

If you're like me, the name threw you off. ;-) Yes, it did!

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-08-13T07:30:07-06:00

ID

133022

Comment

I actually like Seattle Drip better - give me a Latte with french vanilla, steamed extra hot, any day. :)

Author

lanier77

Date

2008-08-13T07:47:17-06:00

ID

133024

Comment

And after all this time, I thought Seattle Drip was based in Seattle. But I can see how it could be based in Madison: they're all bricked!

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-08-13T09:31:28-06:00

ID

133026

Comment

I don't venture to Madison much but whenever I go Jazz N Jazz is a must stop for me. Depending on the time of day I'll have Smoothie, coffee or a designer martini. It never occurs to me to stop at Starbucks. Starbucks is a decent company and they have great customer service however Madison should do more to support their own. As iTodd pointed, they've got some great locally owned coffee shops. When are people going to learn that chains aren't what make the local economy survive and thrive? It's the local guys that make through tough times.

Author

msgrits

Date

2008-08-13T09:34:13-06:00

ID

133027

Comment

Well, the issue should be cut-and-dried for someone like Mayor Mary. The $$ return to the community of shopping at Jazz and Java, Cups or Seattle Drip is *massive* compared to the one-time sale at Starbucks that shoots the profits back to Seattle. When the money stays in local banks, when local investors look for more opportunities -- when, in other words, wealth accumulates IN the community -- then things are much better for your city. There are built-in advantages to having a local operation over a chain *every time* particularly when that local store is well run and succeeds. And when a CHAIN store can't sustain...just get out of the way! If you're EVER going to rally to help a business, and you're the Mayor or the Chamber, it should be a for a locally owned business, because the returns are SO MUCH better than chains. ... Oh, and can you imagine if Jazz and Java was *in* Jackson proper? I'd be there all the time!

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-08-13T09:42:16-06:00

ID

133032

Comment

It's just Coffee. I don't see what she's getting worked up about considering there are alternatives. Unless she thinks Madison will be kicked out of the Snob Club for not having one.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2008-08-13T12:08:10-06:00

ID

133065

Comment

Doesn't Starbucks know Madison is a bigger star than them in Madisonians' mind? You don't leave Madison, Madison leaves you! Duh.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-08-14T12:26:07-06:00

ID

133069

Comment

Todd, writing in a column in the Aug. 14 Madison County Herald, Fusion owner Tripp Douglas agrees with you and wonders about the coffee bar double standard in Madison.

Author

Doctor S

Date

2008-08-14T14:02:24-06:00

ID

133070

Comment

(One aside -- Do they realize they've nicknamed their own paper the "McHerald?" Seriously? These jokes are too easy, folks. ;-) Click here for the column (buried under the lead Web story about the rally). Tripp's whole piece is full of "money quotes" -- it's very well thought out. Here's one in particular: I suppose many people see Starbucks as some sort of status symbol for the city. But if a charming city like Madison is going to stay charming, it needs locally owned family businesses far more than corporate chains. As this situation shows, corporate chains create a cookie-cutter town, they have no loyalty to the community, and they leave behind vacant buildings when they inevitably decide to pull out. "Think Local First," everyone. You'll be hearing more of that slogan from the JFP in the next little while. If we want our local communities to stay unique then we need to put more effort into supporting locally owned businesses. Someday we'll realize that it's a civic duty, and a high American principle. Think Local First.

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-08-14T14:27:19-06:00

ID

133072

Comment

"Think Local First," everyone. You'll be hearing more of that slogan from the JFP in the next little while. If we want our local communities to stay unique then we need to put more effort into supporting locally owned businesses. Hope that you guys consider businesses in Madison and Rankin counties to be part of the local scene. They deserve your support too. Rico (broadcasting to you live from Fusion Coffee House in Ridgeland)...

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-14T15:31:29-06:00

ID

133075

Comment

Damn Rico, you're a one-trick pony. ;-) Yes, we love LOCAL businesses in the 'burbs...don't spend much time in them, since we've got nice coffee shops down here in TheJack. The argument is the same. I like businesses to stay in Jackson, but Think Local First applies everywhere, from an economic health, environmental and civic perspective.

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-08-14T16:36:38-06:00

ID

133076

Comment

Well someone has to keep you guys accountable. It wasn't all that long ago that some on this site were extremely anti-suburbia- pushing for commuter taxes, having "buy Jackson" campaigns, trash talking our lovely gas stations, etc. I have noticed some lightening up on the topic, and it is much appreciated.

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-14T17:29:05-06:00

ID

133078

Comment

Rico as far as iam concerned if and when jacksonians bash the suburbs its fair because just think of all the hating the suburbanites do against jackson. uppity snobs.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-08-14T17:50:09-06:00

ID

133079

Comment

Cookie cutter city, jackson will never be beat even as we go through these bad times.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-08-14T17:51:46-06:00

ID

133080

Comment

I would say (and I don't speak for the JFP by any means, but I spend enough time here to know) that the motto around here is Buy Jackson first, but above all wherever you are, Buy Local. The JFP is always going to promote Jackson first, because that's what it's all about. It is called the JACKSON Free Press for a reason. But the second goal seems to be to promote Mississippi as a whole, which includes local businesses wherever they may be.

Author

andi

Date

2008-08-14T19:15:53-06:00

ID

133081

Comment

is Queen mary that stupid?

Author

atlntaexile

Date

2008-08-14T19:34:03-06:00

ID

133082

Comment

Andi, I'm certainly ok with that. Just wish everyone shared the same sentiment...

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-14T19:35:34-06:00

ID

133083

Comment

jackson will never be beat even as we go through these bad times. Bad times? I'm thinking that these are some of the best times that Jackson has ever had- and I've lived in the area off and on for 40 years...

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-14T19:40:01-06:00

ID

133084

Comment

I gotta agree there Rico. I mean Jackson is bustin, I was over there in early August. It has started and to be sure it will take time but "J" will be a different place in a short ten years. It is obviously going to be denser and thankfully more diverse. The DT will take on a cosmopolitan feel. Thats a good thing.

Author

atlntaexile

Date

2008-08-14T19:48:38-06:00

ID

133086

Comment

Good grief...this Jackson vs suburbs thing is getting really tiresome...and I don't even live there anymore. The mayor of Madison has every right to show support for citizens who may be losing their jobs. Let's not forget that Starbucks and other national companies provide jobs to locals everywhere. I don't care who owns any company that provides opportunities for people to work and support their families. No one should be happy when a legitiment business closes.

Author

James Hester

Date

2008-08-14T20:12:27-06:00

ID

133087

Comment

Rico..I wish I could believe. Its just that actions, quotes, etc..are showing me otherwise. In a previous thread about Madison I gave the benefit of the doubt..Folks should live wherever they wish right? We root for you..you root for us. right? But it has become apparent that Jackson is the only entity pushing this ''metro'' concept with our neighboring communities...... ............................... Between the CL and the Madison mayor running a stepford communtiy..and their new slogan ''If you dont want your family slaughtered...move to Madison'' we've been dumped on long enough. It appears that some pray for our downfall...campaign for businesses that should rightfully go here..This has become a donut and Jackson is the hole in the middle. Its supposed to be championing for the capital city..all surrounding areas should be rooting for our success because OUR sucesses are the Metro's successes..at least common sense would dictate... ..................................... Nope now its Jackson first. Buy Jackson. first and foremost. Locate in Jackson...visit Jackson's downtown...respect us as the capital..In the words of Christopher Walken in the movie King Of New York..''You guys got fat while we were starving'' no more...

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-08-14T20:17:23-06:00

ID

133088

Comment

I'm all for you guys buying Jackson first- that is a positive thing. But please don't turn it into a negative by doing a "don't buy in Madison" or Ridgeland or Pearl or Byram, etc. And Madison's slogan is "Madison, the city"...

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-14T20:24:23-06:00

ID

133090

Comment

As opposed to the County of Madison.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2008-08-14T20:46:08-06:00

ID

133091

Comment

Rico..again nothing personal at all. you clearly see the big picture..But madison promotes itself by downing us. THEY say don't buy in Jackson..Their communities grow by siphoning off our population by using the CL's propoganda to scare folks out of our city. Its not me saying it Rico...Look at the results. So why should we be the nice guys eh?

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-08-14T20:56:13-06:00

ID

133092

Comment

Kaze , I'm sorry but I just don't see or hear it. Maybe if you could show me some examples or something. I know there are a few crackpots out here that refuse to say anything good about Jackson, but hell- you guys have people who live in Jackson that refuse to say anything good about Jackson! I just think that it makes more sense to be positive about the entire area.

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-14T21:34:35-06:00

ID

133093

Comment

Good grief...this Jackson vs suburbs thing is getting really tiresome. As long as people keep dissin' Jackson, we'll keep dissin' back. I don't like it either, but suburbanites still have negative perception about Jackson and will use every trick in the book to prove those perceptions right. They'll even go so far to pull out a negative in a positive. The only way to fight perception is to fight it with reality, which is what we try to do here.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-08-14T21:39:58-06:00

ID

133094

Comment

As long as people keep dissin' Jackson, we'll keep dissin' back. Isn't that a playground mentality? "My daddy can beat up your daddy." At some point, one side, or both, will have to act like adults and stop the name calling. Question is...which side will take the first step?

Author

James Hester

Date

2008-08-14T22:05:31-06:00

ID

133095

Comment

Youre right Rico and James..per my column this week... We WILL try to win with positivity..But understand it IS frustrating when we are the only ones attempting to make a metro concept work. Madison has made it clear they want to stand alone. Byram and Ridgeland(even Clinton) want to be separate entities. But Jackson wont resort to petty bickering. and Rico we will start calling out Jacksonians who push the negative spin as well.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-08-14T22:20:46-06:00

ID

133096

Comment

I think that you should call out *anyone* who pushes the negative spin on Jackson- but maybe you should do it by focusing on that person rather than talking trash about wherever they are from, wouldn't you agree? If not, then you become guilty of carpet bombing a lot of innocent people in the process.

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-14T22:50:49-06:00

ID

133097

Comment

have yall read the C L forums, people are downright nasty and hateful, racist and evil towards jackson and you want us to play fair. they call us idiots, thugs on and on like every citizen in jackson falls under the same category.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-08-15T06:50:28-06:00

ID

133098

Comment

NewJack has a point, Rico. I have always tried to get you to ask yourself if you scold the naysayers who dog Jackson in the same way that you do the people who defend the city against the suburbs. And I just cannot believe how much racism the Ledger allows. It's horrifying that people outside of here land there and see that, not to mention people in the state. They truly draw the lowest common denominator of Mississippians to their site. Which, of course, is who they play to. But it sure doesn't help the state's reputation to see the largest daily have such bad writing and reporting, and then to read illiterate and racist ravings under the stories all the time. Shudder.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-08-15T07:24:10-06:00

ID

133100

Comment

To get this back on the original topic at hand, I could care less if Starbucks closes in Madison, Jackson or Rancho Cucamonga. I never set foot in one and it wouldn't hurt me one bit if they went away. Of course, I feel bad for those who will lose their jobs, but that's just the nature of the beast.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-08-15T08:04:41-06:00

ID

133102

Comment

Madison suffers from the same, yet very different quandary as Jackson: incompetent leader. Mayor Melton is an underachiever whereas Mayor Mary seems to be an overachiever (in a bad way). She wants nothing in her city other than what she refers to as "first rate." Ex. Starbuck's. She doesn't care about local business. She cares about how Madison is perceived by visitors. In doing this, she has set strict, yet ambiguous ordinances and has missed the chance to get the "first rate" businesses because of it. She wishes she had all the businesses that make up the Renaissance in Ridgeland, but she missed out because frankly, it cost more to build in Madison than Ridgeland and it takes longer to go through all the ambiguous back-and-forth to get things approved. Madison has only one ordinance regarding the aesthetics of new buildings, and that is that it must be approved by the city... and the city's "architectural advisor" is actually just a graphic designer... I'm not here to bash Madison, but they need some revamping just as Jackson does, even though it may be for different reasons. It's clear that it's time for a change around these parts. I'm just glad I'm where I want to be.

Author

chip

Date

2008-08-15T08:39:34-06:00

ID

133103

Comment

Speaking on the topic of those losing their jobs, I don't feel that bad just because the majority of people who work at coffee shops are young adults and and teenagers, and there are plenty of jobs out there that pay the same that require the same skill set. The store manager and owner would be the exception.

Author

chip

Date

2008-08-15T08:42:07-06:00

ID

133104

Comment

Chip, where these plentifull jobs for teenagers? My daughter and about 5 of her friends have been looking for jobs for about 2 months and all they are finding is "is we're not hiring right now" from everyone they talk to.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2008-08-15T10:00:24-06:00

ID

133105

Comment

I know there were lots of stores in the Renaissance that were/are hiring, might want to check there. Maybe things have changed in the past 10 years, but there were tons of jobs available when I was in high school. I'm not saying they were all jobs that high school students liked to do, but they were out there. I worked at McAllister's and Pizza Hut. Minimum wage teaches humility.

Author

chip

Date

2008-08-15T10:08:51-06:00

ID

133108

Comment

I agree with everything said above about the CL forums. I've "dipped my toe in the water" so to speak in the last few days, and can't really believe some of the things that I've read. Still, there are plenty of people there who like/love Jackson- some might be critical about certain things, but their comments are meant to help, not to pull down- sort of like Chip's comments about Madison posted above.

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-15T11:10:06-06:00

ID

133110

Comment

BTW, Rico, one point of clarification -- even if I'm interested in a new spirit of love and harmony with the 'burbs (Kaze and I were both on the trip to Little Rock and those of us who saw how their "metro" works would love to be open to possible new horizons of partnership and trust with Madison, et. al.), that doesn't mean that: (a.) I'm not going to call out Mayor Mary for supporting Starbucks over local shops -- particularly when there's literally a corporate coffee house franchisor in her town that she could be supporting over Starbucks and... (b.) I'm still not totally against either Payment in Lieu of Taxes or a "Commuter Tax" for people and businesses who regularly use all of the amenities that this city has to offer while running back home to pay their car tags and property taxes. It doesn't have to be punitive, but there needs to be a recognition on a regional and/or state level that the amount of non-profit and government land in the city of Jackson deserves some sort of fiscal offset. (Having said that, if y'all want to wait until we have a slightly more fiscally accountable mayor in Jackson, I'm not going to hold THAT against you.)

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-08-15T11:19:02-06:00

ID

133124

Comment

A) I will join you in calling out Mayor Mary for that. B) The reason that I am against a commuter tax isn't because I think Jackson doesn't deserve it but because I think that it will ultimately hurt Jackson. Lets face it- there are quite a few businesses in Jackson who might move to the suburbs to *avoid* the commuter tax.

Author

Rico

Date

2008-08-15T13:40:21-06:00

ID

133125

Comment

I'm enjoying the commentary, ladies and gentlemen. My only problem is I don't like Ridgeland being mentioned in the same breadth as Madison and other diseased places in Rankin or Hinds. We intend for Gene McGee to recognize financial, cultural, social and racial differences that exist amoung its citizens and to forego any notions of Ridgeland being or becoming a place particilarly suited for the elite, rich and ole style leaders of the past. Yes, we need some diversity in leadership in Ridgeland too, but I be damned if we're going to put some lofty and meaningless image above the needs of the state and citizentry. We may do it secretly but not openly else I'd soon be protesting. We Ridgelanders, by and large, love Jackson. I don't have any taste or toleration for Ridgelanders badmouthing and arguing separation from Jackson. I can't imagine any flourishings in Jackson that wouldn't benefit Ridgeland too in some way and vice versa. To make the top 10 best places to live, you have to ....

Author

Walt

Date

2008-08-15T14:04:48-06:00

ID

133126

Comment

B) The reason that I am against a commuter tax isn't because I think Jackson doesn't deserve it but because I think that it will ultimately hurt Jackson. Lets face it- there are quite a few businesses in Jackson who might move to the suburbs to *avoid* the commuter tax. That's an excellent point, Rico, and it's probably why it hasn't been pursued as vigorously as PILT, which probably hasn't been pursued vigorously enough. My only problem is I don't like Ridgeland being mentioned in the same breadth as Madison and other diseased places in Rankin or Hinds. Man, I was almost taking that seriously until I saw it was "Walt."

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-08-15T14:10:03-06:00

ID

133127

Comment

Whaaat? Walt ain't serious? I'm very serious when I'm serious. When I'm serious is anybody's guess, though. If I wrote it, I meant it, at least at the time I wrote it. As I get new information I have to act accordingly. New inforamation is always coming.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-08-15T14:14:30-06:00

ID

133128

Comment

Isn't Ridgeland's slogan "Living Right?" How's that goin', Walt?

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2008-08-15T14:21:40-06:00

ID

133129

Comment

Especially around Northpark Mall.......... oh.. I'm sorry did I type that out loud

Author

atlntaexile

Date

2008-08-15T14:23:58-06:00

ID

133130

Comment

Chip, where these plentifull jobs for teenagers? My daughter and about 5 of her friends have been looking for jobs for about 2 months and all they are finding is "is we're not hiring right now" from everyone they talk to. BubbaT, a lot of Jackson restaurants are short on good help: Broad Street, Sal & Mookies, Basil's and Room Service are all advertising positions in the JFP. Some of the national chains have been advertising jobs too. I'm sure most of these restaurants will hire teenagers. Also, former Starbucks staff should check in with the new local coffee places opening soon. Cups has new cafes opening in Clinton & Flowood and there's also Sneaky Beans in Fondren. Koinonia by JSU/Downtown, Coffee Roastery Downtown, Wired in Downtown and even Jazz & Java, Seattle Drip and Fusion up in Madison may be hiring as well.

Author

stephen

Date

2008-08-15T14:25:52-06:00

ID

133131

Comment

We're living right as far as I know, Itodd. In other words, I haven't heard of much basklash or complaining from within. I probably should become more involved politically so as to know exactly what is on the horizon for Ridgeland and their relationship with jackson. We need diversity of minds at least in our leadership and I mostly think we have that. I long for diveristy of race and ethnicity too, and worry it may be a long time coming before I see that on the board of alderman. The numbers aren't right for that yet. As a person who grew up in South Ridgeland, one mile from Jackson, I never treated either place as separate. I moved to Ridgeland at 14 and lived there until 23. I equally loved both places although the acutely knowing would question how I could love Ridgeland with its diseased frame of mind during my childhood. To that I say ignorance was blissful. If I knew for a fact that Gene McGee was anti Jackson I would give money and campaign to oust his behind. I voted against him the last time because I thought he was becoming too much like the mayors of the other uppity towns.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-08-15T14:38:48-06:00