My Local Coffee Shop Closed. Yeah, it's a Big Deal.
Local loss, global lessons. Are big brand boycotts enough to save small businesses?
“My dog ate a whole chicken,” the coffee shop owner said.
“Your dog? The little Frenchie?!” I asked.
“Yeah!” he replied. “It was on the counter. We left for a moment, came back, and it was gone.”
“Ohmygod! Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she seemed to be. No issues.” He said.
“Man. Crazy. Alright. Thanks! See you next time," I said and led my dog out the front door.
“See ya’!” He said.
Hawthorn was my local coffee shop. It was one block away from my house. Ten years ago, I watched them build it—a son and father team. The son had roots in the restaurant business. The father knew how to build stuff. They both were wholeheartedly committed to community.
Yesterday, I ran over to grab a coffee; a line wrapped around the building. It was their last day in business in that spot. The neighborhood showed up to give them a proper send-off. To give back all the love they’d given to all of us over the years.
Small, local businesses are what make our cities awesome. Too many are being forced to close.
Hawthorn’s lease was up, and the rent had skyrocketed. When they opened, they signed a ten-year lease. The neighborhood was way different back then. They were one of the first coffee shops on the block. Now, there are several others. Still, Hawthorn thrived.
Change is happening fast. There are high-rise apartments going up on every block. Parking is problematic.
This once sleepy, dive-bar-dotted street has become popular. The best gelato shop in the country is on this block. There’s always a line—even in winter. I don’t know who owns the building, but they’re wringing out the merchants like a wet towel.
It sucks.
It already feels like corporations own everything, so losing one more local coffee shop hits harder than normal. Familiar faces are gone. Rapport is out the window. No more, “Do you want your usual?” from the baristas I saw on the regular.
No more chit-chat about dogs.
It’s gone.
It’s an empty space now.
I walked by today, and they were tearing it down. It seems like a dream.
Last month, consumer confidence dropped seven points to its lowest level since 2021. Nationwide boycotts of Tesla, Amazon, Walmart, and Target are taking hold. They’re effective for the most part.
These boycotts “may indicate the start of a "Great Rejection," which is gaining momentum online to stop spending on nonessential goods, Greg Petro, Forbes Investing contributor, says.
Tesla stock is tumbling worldwide.
The official Amazon boycott was one week long. Kinda insufficient, if you ask me. So far, Amazon isn’t feeling a whole lot of pain. Business Insider reported on people stealing from Whole Foods to get back at Jeff Bezos, but those actions are short sighted.
Petty theft adds up. And loss (shrinkage) usually winds up on the store leader’s performance reviews. Stealing steaks from Whole Foods may feel great. Take that, Bezos! The shoplifters shout as they throw their liberated meat on the grill. But stealing doesn’t cause Jeff Bezos any financial pain. It hurts regular people trying to keep their jobs in stores.
It causes everyday prices to rise. Which hurts regular people like you and me.
So, don’t steal. Just shop somewhere else. But not Walmart.
Walmart is feeling some heat.
According to Fortune, “Walmart’s market cap dropped by $22 billion after news broke Tuesday that consumer confidence in the U.S. plummeted to a 12-year low. CEO Doug McMillon had just said last month he’d noticed “stressed” behavior from consumers who were more budget-constrained.”
Yeah, we’re stressed, Doug. WE ARE STRESSED.
Target is super stressed. The company is in the middle of a 40-day boycott.
“We’ve got to tell corporate America that there’s a consequence for turning their back on diversity,” said Bishop Reginald T. Jackson. “So let us send the message that if corporate America can’t stand with us, we’re not going to stand with corporate America.” - Retail Wire
Retail Wire also reported that Target will be cutting its yearly bonuses for salaried employees. They will only be eligible for 87% of their bonuses, compared to 100% from last year.
Damn.
It sucks for these employees, for sure. But I have no love for a company that spent years touting itself as an ally and then did a 180 when a new administration came in. They cut and ran so fast. Target was a giant letdown this year and people will not let them forget it.
Tracking these corporate overlords sure does make me tired. I need another cup of coffee.
We’re back to coffee.
And the loss of my neighborhood shop.
I’ll still look for them when I walk down that block. My dog will still try to pull me in. Paper will line the windows for a while. She’ll sit empty.
We could have had down-to-earth, caring business owners stay. Instead, we’ll get some company that can afford the astronomical rent.
I don’t regret one dollar I spent in that coffee shop. I try to buy from small businesses whenever I head out the door. It matters. It still matters. It will always matter. Don’t let Tesla, Amazon, Walmart, or Target tell you any differently. They don’t care about you. They care about your dollars.
No more.
Kit Campoy is an accomplished retail expert and author. She leverages her two decades of leadership experience to inform and inspire. Kit is now booking panel speaking sessions for Q3 of 2025. Book a call on her website today!
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That coffee shop will now be missed by all who read this! And it was the perfect analogy of trying to support workers over corporations. So hard! But there is a movement as you point out.
Kit, I felt this deeply. I wish there were a neighborhood bookstore but even the big bookstores have disappeared. Sigh.