David Liu, who co-owns the International Coffee Exchange with his aunt Lin Fong Chao, was unhappy with the decision. "I think it's only going to hurt our business," Liu said.

Bob Cancellieri, owner of the buildings on Big Basin Way that house the Tapioca Express and the Saratoga International Market, saw things differently. "I think it was a move in the right direction," Cancellieri said. "In my experience, competition is good for business."

During public hearings before the vote, more than 50 people came out to speak their minds on whether Starbucks should be allowed to set up shop at the head of the Village. Many saw an expected increase in vehicular traffic as a potential safety hazard at the corner of Big Basin Way and Highway 9. Others saw Starbucks as a threat to the Village's unique character. And some saw Starbucks as a threat to the Village's sole-proprietor coffee shops, such as the International Coffee Exchange and the Blue Rock Shoot.

Those who spoke out in favor of Starbucks were concerned about a moribund business climate and saw the coffee store as a way to revitalize the business in the Village by improving foot traffic.

The city council's 4-0 vote came after a failed motion by the planning commission on July 27. With three commissioners absent, the planning commission split 2-2 that night. Commissioners Mike Uhl and Robert Kundtz voted the permit down because of concerns regarding traffic and public safety. A representative from Starbucks appealed the failed motion, which sent the issue before a city council special meeting.

Unlike the planning commission, the city council came down decidedly in favor of Starbucks.

The four attending council members--Mayor Kathleen King, Vice Mayor Norman Kline, Councilman Nick Streit and Councilwoman Aileen Kao--all stated they were in favor of rejuvenating the Village. "We are pro-business," Kline said. Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith was not present.

Streit did not agree with members of the public who argued traffic safety was an issue. He said traffic studies found this not to be the case.

Before casting her vote, Kao acknowledged that there were passions on both sides and noted this made her decision difficult, but said Starbucks was part of the council's efforts to energize the Village. "We don't want this to be a ghost village," she said.

Kline said that parking was not an issue. He said that the area was already heavily trafficked and that speeding motorists were the problem and needed to be dealt with. In response to members of the public who brought signed petitions with thousands of signatures in support of the International Coffee Exchange and the Blue Rock Shoot, Kline said, "I've never seen a thousand people sign a petition before for any issue in Saratoga." He said if the same people signing petitions came to the Village and frequented local coffee shops, then competition from Starbucks would not be an issue.

In 1997, the planning commission voted down a conditional-use permit for a Starbucks at Corinthian Corners. Back then the property was owned by Ann Fitzsimmons, who has since sold the property to Hiekali.

Hiekali was happy the vote for a conditional-use permit went differently this time around, but said he did not see it as a personal victory. "We spent over a million dollars renovating Corinthian Corners and I think it's something the city can be proud of," he said. "I think [Starbucks] is something good for the city and good for the Village. It's a victory for everybody."

Hiekali hopes a Starbucks at Corinthian Corners will open before the year is out.