February 19, 2015 · Exit133

6th & Pine Starbucks Closes

If you've been down 6th Avenue in the last couple days, you may have noticed that the 6th and Pine Starbucks is closed. Not just closed, but gone. Signage, fixtures, and all.

We've read a few rumors on the social networks... That the store didn't make enough money. That they couldn't come to agreement with the building owner on a new lease. That Starbucks plans to close the 6th and Sprague location as well and open a new larger format store with a drive thru. That the plan is to eventually open one of their new concept stores that serves beer and wine alongside coffee and tea ...

And you know what they say - if you read it on the internet, it must be true ...

Filed under: Tacoma Business, Neighborhoods, Restaurants & Bars, 6th Avenue, Rumor & Speculation

6 comments

Oscar February 23, 2015

Why is it that pot shops are like tattoo parlors? Pot cannot be smoked in public but it is marketed on the street corner. It is certainly disheartening to see a Starbucks close if somehow the decision is a verdict on the neighborhood's economic vitality. The florist and drug stores are gone in that area, disapppeared like the Guild Theater long ago that is now a glass shop. The nearby vacuum store in that area represents the type of independent merchants whose business should be encouraged--because not all vacuums are sold through Wal-Mart. Old Sixth Avenue's retail offerings were a testament to the strength of blue-collar Tacoma. A pot shop is free enterprise but it reflects poorly on neighborhood business prospects. Is the pot shop at Sixth and PIne a trend?
- Diana February 24, 2015
  
  Please....no more Pot Shops. There are enough already. Our property values will go down.........and so will the Ave. It is a cool area...............but.............please no more Pot Shops.
Matthew Weinstein February 24, 2015

Without a better analysis it's hard to know what this means. One interpretation is that they just couldn't compete with local coffee, which I don't think is an entirely bad thing. I live in the neighborhood, and never would go there when satellite is right across the street, bluebeard is down the street in one direction and metronome in the other, both of which I love going to.
Coffee Connoisseur February 24, 2015

As an all around coffee lover I can say that I'm quite happy to see Starbucks closing shop in certain areas. They can take their burnt beans and bland overpriced everything somewhere else. I hope to everything that is good in this world that they don't plan on reopening anything in that area again any time ever. Metronome is good coffee and worth the walk even from downtown.
NPR Listener February 24, 2015

It was fascinating to hear on NPR the other day as I drove past that location, that living within a 1/4 mile of a coffee shop (any coffee shop) increases home values, and that more specifically living within a 1/4 mile of a Starbucks increases home values at a higher rate. Here's the interview. Start at the 8:00 mark. http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/01/28/zillow-new-rules-real-estate
Shari Roland March 6, 2015

I just got back from New York. There was a coffeeshop called Blue Bottle. It was the most delicious coffee I ever drank. They were standing in line to get into the shop. Plus there was no place to sit but nobody cared because the coffee was so good . People pay for a great product . Wish they would open here. If another potshop goes in the street is doomed. All the pot shops make the ave look seedy.