[alexisnorman]

I wonder how this works in places that are much more spread out than NYC or San Francisco. I live in Phoenix and there are drive-thru Starbucks at what seems like every intersection but it seems like mom and pop shops are pushed out of this equation here. One popular local shop closed down this year after a drive-thru Starbucks opened up in the same plaza. People here are definitely more in line with corporate (/more convenient?) businesses than the little guys, so maybe that has something to do with it.

[specialist]

I recently found maybe 6 "third place" style cafes (for laptop camping) in the entire Phoenix valley that weren't chains. Years ago, IIRC, I found none open after 5pm.

To have "local culture" you need to get people out of their cars, houses, offices. Tellingly, the best cafe I found was next to a church and affiliated somehow.

[saryant]

A good friend of mine owns a small coffee company in San Antonio—probably one of the best roasters in the country. He loves Starbucks. Nobody would ever venture into the world of high-end specialty coffee is Starbucks didn't serve as the gateway.

[ctingom]

Which shop closed down because of Starbucks?