Saratoga News

Starbucks will help other businesses

By Kookie Fitzsimmons

There is a concerted effort by a few individuals to keep Starbucks from coming into the Village. Perhaps it's the squeaky wheels that get noticed, but those squeaky wheels do not represent the feelings of most small businesses in the Village. In fact, of 80 businesses that were interviewed, 91.25 percent have signed a petition in support of Starbucks, with .025 percent merchants undecided. Supporters include such coffee-serving businesses as Saratoga Plaza Bakery, Little Amsterdam, Village Rendezvous and Brandon's.

There was a negative letter to the Planning Commission from S. D. Timans and Co. regarding parking. They manage the Buy and Save property. Perhaps the Timans Company should have talked to their tenants first before sending out their letter, because six of the seven tenants in that shopping center support Starbucks. Apparently, these small businesses see Starbucks as a benefit to their own business.

We all work hard for a living in this very competitive world. But the fact is, there is not enough interest in the Village to bring Saratogans here. New places like Hometown Buffet, Boston Market, Cucina Cunina and Mimi's Cafe have been frequented by us, and we will continue to go there: This takes tax dollars out of Saratoga and into San Jose. If Village businesses think business is down now, wait until El Paseo reopens, Argonaut completes its re-do and Quito finishes its improvements.

The most current "sales tax history" I have is from the first quarter of 1996. Figures indicate that Saratoga restaurants were down 12.8 percent, while retail was up 0.1 percent. And the rest of Santa Clara Valley was up approximately 17 percent. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that opening up a small business in Saratoga may not be such an attractive offer right now.

Get past the fear. Open this issue up to the market place. If there is no need for Starbucks, they won't stay in town. They will pack up and leave--guaranteed. However, if Starbucks does well here, doesn't that prove the point that they were needed?

Regarding "wanting to do business with the independent owner," I am sure glad that we do have "chains" in the Village. If you look closely, these "chains" offer tremendous community support. For example, Mail Boxes Etc. always supports the Chamber and its events, as do the real estate offices and all the banks. Florentine Restaurant, Chef Chau and Score are also chains. The "chains" have not ruined the "quaint" Village. How absurd! They support the Village and are welcome neighbors of ours. It's these chains that also support all the Saratoga residents who come looking for donations to support their church, school, band, fundraising projects, etc.

Yes, parking is a problem. At the other end of town at lunch and dinner times. As photos will show over a series of days, at different times of the morning on different days of the week, the public parking lot behind the drug store is so empty that the street sweeper has plenty of room to clean this practically empty 200-plus public parking area. These photos were taken between 7:50 and 8:30 a.m.--Starbucks' peak hours. All of the merchants on Big Basin Way between the drug store and the bank have enthusiastically endorsed Starbucks (except one business that wants to stay anonymous). A couple of landowners in this parking district have supported Starbucks as well. The merchants who are most affected understand that the public parking lot behind their business may be used by Starbucks customers. The people most affected by this decision day in and day out are asking to let Starbucks come in; they want them.

Many Saratoga residents have come by the shop to say that they hope Starbucks will come to the Village. It is so obvious that the vitality of the Village will be improved as a whole. I wish the few individuals who are trying to keep Starbucks from the Village would understand that all boats will rise with the tide.

Kookie Fitzsimmons is owner of Corinthian Flowers, the proposed site for Starbucks in Saratoga. She is also a past president of the Saratoga Village Merchants Association.