Indiana cafe has no taste for liberals or coffeehouse layabouts

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm sure there'll be some novelty value to it... But I rather expect he'll be judged on the quality of his food and coffee than the politics of the establishment.

I am sure that's true.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm sure there'll be some novelty value to it... But I rather expect he'll be judged on the quality of his food and coffee than the politics of the establishment.

I am sure that's true.

You have to admit though that this guy is breaking one of the cardinal rules of the Food and Hospitality industry. You treat the customer as King, basically, and you mess with that at your peril. I expect this guy will find that out in short order... Unless his business really is just made up exclusively from like-minded people in his town... Even so... limited growth...

[HAL 9000 96]

A "Conservative" Coffee Shop - How f*cking ridiculous.

Maybe, maybe not. If the conservative theme results in a good profit-making business, good for him!

Totally ironic... "liberal-themed coffeehouses making a huge profit for a small number of shareholders."

But true.

A "Conservative" Coffee Shop - How f*cking ridiculous.

Given the crowd that hangs out at Starbucks, I don't think it's ridiculous at all. Hell, I'm more liberal than conservative and the clientele of Starbucks makes ME want to puke sometimes.

Why is it so ridiculous to have a conservative coffee shop? Don't you think conservative people would like to have a place to have a coffee and conversation with like-minded people too?

Must be a regional thing, b/c every unfortunate time I have to enter a Starbucks I feel like I'm in some sort of preppy joint. You know... the I only care about myself crowd.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I'm sure there'll be some novelty value to it... But I rather expect he'll be judged on the quality of his food and coffee than the politics of the establishment.

I am sure that's true.

You have to admit though that this guy is breaking one of the cardinal rules of the Food and Hospitality industry. You treat the customer as King, basically, and you mess with that at your peril. I expect this guy will find that out in short order... Unless his business really is just made up exclusively from like-minded people in his town... Even so... limited growth...

I don't see what the problem is, really. Don't liberals generally champion diversity? Well, that's what this is, only with a slightly alternate take on the subject.

You can't deny that Starbucks does cater to a certain crowd. That's neither good nor bad, but for some, I imagine it might get annoying. So this guy made a single coffee house -- against the thousands of Starbucks-owned establishments -- with conservatives in-mind. I don't think he's forcibly keeping people out. If a liberal Democrat wanted to eat or drink there, they could, but they'd have to endure the imagery on the walls, Fox News on the televisions and whatever political discussion is going on at the moment. That person wouldn't be "shown the door" simply due to their political allegiances.

However, they might feel a bit uncomfortable and if they did, that would be their problem. That's not the owner's issue. The owner's obligation is to have a place that serves what it advertises. That may or may not include whatever is on the menu and the overall "feel" of the place.

I have to question some who find this pathetic. How is it any different from an English or Irish-themed pub? Does that suddenly mean no one's allowed in unless they're either English or Irish? Of course not. What about establishments for children, like Chuck E. Cheese (or as I remember it, Showbiz Pizza), which handles birthday parties and other events with pizza, cake, games and rides? Are adults barred from doing any of those activities, with or without children? No, they're not and although they might feel a little awkward, the fact remains the option is still open to them.

So why would a conservative-themed cafe mean "no liberals allowed?" I'd say that's jumping to illogical conclusions. In fact, if anything, liberals might actually flock to the place, since it'd be a fantastic breeding ground for political discourse.

[HAL 9000 96]

It's in Indiana. Who knows, he may do well. Not like he's doing this in Elizabeth, NJ.

There's a Starbucks in Elizabeth? With all the South Americans you'd think they'd drink real coffee from Colombia instead of that "Indonesian/Colombian" stuff they have there.

[Ban Hammer 13,282]

I'm sure there'll be some novelty value to it... But I rather expect he'll be judged on the quality of his food and coffee than the politics of the establishment.

I am sure that's true.

You have to admit though that this guy is breaking one of the cardinal rules of the Food and Hospitality industry. You treat the customer as King, basically, and you mess with that at your peril. I expect this guy will find that out in short order... Unless his business really is just made up exclusively from like-minded people in his town... Even so... limited growth...

I don't see what the problem is, really. Don't liberals generally champion diversity? Well, that's what this is, only with a slightly alternate take on the subject.

You can't deny that Starbucks does cater to a certain crowd. That's neither good nor bad, but for some, I imagine it might get annoying. So this guy made a single coffee house -- against the thousands of Starbucks-owned establishments -- with conservatives in-mind. I don't think he's forcibly keeping people out. If a liberal Democrat wanted to eat or drink there, they could, but they'd have to endure the imagery on the walls, Fox News on the televisions and whatever political discussion is going on at the moment. That person wouldn't be "shown the door" simply due to their political allegiances.

However, they might feel a bit uncomfortable and if they did, that would be their problem. That's not the owner's issue. The owner's obligation is to have a place that serves what it advertises. That may or may not include whatever is on the menu and the overall "feel" of the place.

I have to question some who find this pathetic. How is it any different from an English or Irish-themed pub? Does that suddenly mean no one's allowed in unless they're either English or Irish? Of course not. What about establishments for children, like Chuck E. Cheese (or as I remember it, Showbiz Pizza), which handles birthday parties and other events with pizza, cake, games and rides? Are adults barred from doing any of those activities, with or without children? No, they're not and although they might feel a little awkward, the fact remains the option is still open to them.

So why would a conservative-themed cafe mean "no liberals allowed?" I'd say that's jumping to illogical conclusions. In fact, if anything, liberals might actually flock to the place, since it'd be a fantastic breeding ground for political discourse.

the ranting against this coffee place is pretty much a tempest in a teapot.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm sure there'll be some novelty value to it... But I rather expect he'll be judged on the quality of his food and coffee than the politics of the establishment.

I am sure that's true.

You have to admit though that this guy is breaking one of the cardinal rules of the Food and Hospitality industry. You treat the customer as King, basically, and you mess with that at your peril. I expect this guy will find that out in short order... Unless his business really is just made up exclusively from like-minded people in his town... Even so... limited growth...

I don't see what the problem is, really. Don't liberals generally champion diversity? Well, that's what this is, only with a slightly alternate take on the subject.

You can't deny that Starbucks does cater to a certain crowd. That's neither good nor bad, but for some, I imagine it might get annoying. So this guy made a single coffee house -- against the thousands of Starbucks-owned establishments -- with conservatives in-mind. I don't think he's forcibly keeping people out. If a liberal Democrat wanted to eat or drink there, they could, but they'd have to endure the imagery on the walls, Fox News on the televisions and whatever political discussion is going on at the moment. That person wouldn't be "shown the door" simply due to their political allegiances.

However, they might feel a bit uncomfortable and if they did, that would be their problem. That's not the owner's issue. The owner's obligation is to have a place that serves what it advertises. That may or may not include whatever is on the menu and the overall "feel" of the place.

I have to question some who find this pathetic. How is it any different from an English or Irish-themed pub? Does that suddenly mean no one's allowed in unless they're either English or Irish? Of course not. What about establishments for children, like Chuck E. Cheese (or as I remember it, Showbiz Pizza), which handles birthday parties and other events with pizza, cake, games and rides? Are adults barred from doing any of those activities, with or without children? No, they're not and although they might feel a little awkward, the fact remains the option is still open to them.

So why would a conservative-themed cafe mean "no liberals allowed?" I'd say that's jumping to illogical conclusions. In fact, if anything, liberals might actually flock to the place, since it'd be a fantastic breeding ground for political discourse.

Question what exactly... That you have to relativise everything to the nth degree to make ridiculous ideas like this make sense?

Actually in the article the guy seems to suggest that certain types of conversations are not permitted. I suppose in the absence of other information its open to interpretation exactly what that means...

If Starbucks "caters to a certain crowd" - I'd sure like to know what that crowd is and how Starbucks courts that crowd to the exclusion of everyone else. Simply saying "I've been in there and there are people on laptops looking at their bank accounts and having conversations I don't like - how dare they!" doesn't really support that conclusion.

If that's reasonable - then perhaps we should have "conservative" versions of everything else

We could have "Conservative Public Transport" so that the "working man" need not have his sensibilities offended by conversations he overhears on the commute to and from work...

What about hospitals and doctors offices? "I don't care if I've got minutes to live - I don't want no stinkin' liberal working on me".

Seriously man... its nuts... Just admit it

There's nothing inherent in Starbucks locations or marketing that sells a particular brand of ideology (save perhaps for some free-trade/buy organic environmental stuff related to specific products), they don't carry banner ads for political parties and candidates, and they don't sell products with political slogans.

I should also point out the obvious here - noone is stopping this guy from doing this and I wish him good luck with what he's doing. What I do object to is the assumption that his business idea is founded upon: that "conservatives" are so hard done in so many ways that we need alternatively themed businesses for them to go to - presumably to massage their egos.

In fact I'll go further and suggest that this idea that we somehow need politically correct alternatives to counter perceived political bias in everything under the sun isn't exactly the mark of a rational mind-set. Rather it comes from a place that itself doesn't tolerate diversity and so feels the need to compensate for its own insecurities in increasingly ridiculous ways.

It's in Indiana. Who knows, he may do well. Not like he's doing this in Elizabeth, NJ.

There's a Starbucks in Elizabeth? With all the South Americans you'd think they'd drink real coffee from Colombia instead of that "Indonesian/Colombian" stuff they have there.

No there isn't - and the one in Newark was on the list of their closing locations.

Nearest one is in Union I believe...

Edited August 12, 2008 by Number 6

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

There's a Starbucks in Elizabeth? With all the South Americans you'd think they'd drink real coffee from Colombia instead of that "Indonesian/Colombian" stuff they have there.

No there isn't - and the one in Newark was on the list of their closing locations.

Nearest one is in Union I believe...

Jersey Gardens mall is in Elizabeth and it has a Starbucks.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

So if one of the biggest corporations in the world is "catering to liberals" does that must mean there are a helluva lot of liberals?

The last time I actually sat down in Starbucks someone tried to convince me to join a pyramid selling scheme.

[Jenn! 918]

Starbucks caters to the crowd that thinks their coffee is worth what you pay for it. In my experience that includes conservatives and liberals alike. In fact, I think I'm the only one in my largely conservative family who does not frequent Starbucks.

Just saying I still really don't understand this idea that Starbucks is liberal.

Edited August 12, 2008 by Jenn!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Starbucks caters to the crowd that thinks their coffee is worth what you pay for it. In my experience that includes conservatives and liberals alike. In fact, I think I'm the only one in my largely conservative family who does not frequent Starbucks.

Just saying I still really don't understand this idea that Starbucks is liberal.

It's not liberal, it's just "nice" and that freaks out people who prefer dives.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Starbucks caters to the crowd that thinks their coffee is worth what you pay for it. In my experience that includes conservatives and liberals alike. In fact, I think I'm the only one in my largely conservative family who does not frequent Starbucks.

Just saying I still really don't understand this idea that Starbucks is liberal.

I've never said Starbucks is "liberal." I said it caters a "certain type of crowd" which could mean practically anything. Most of the people I've found there are pretentious snobs who merely wish to appear trendy and don't seem to understand that by following a trend (one that is out of date, too), they are by no means interesting or unique; they're merely one of the herd.

My issue is here is why some have a problem with someone opening up a competitor. I've often heard complaints about Starbucks, ranging from the quality of their coffee to their prices and overall dominance in that market. I've also heard many liberals bemoan the fact that large corporate entities (like Starbucks) have taken over and pushed "the little guy" out, which is exactly what this new owner is when compared to Starbucks.

So let's see... we have "diversity" and a "small local business owner," two things that liberals usually cherish. But wait! This place dares to call itself... conservative!? My god. We can't let that go -- if we do, it'll soon be full of hate-groups like the KKK, having meetings every other Friday night, where some "good ol' boys" can string themselves up some minorities, right?

Do you see how ridiculous this is? This place has a theme. That's it. That makes it no different from any other place with an obvious theme, unless we're no longer allowed to have those, too.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Didn't Starbucks stop being trendy over 10 years ago?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Really, how can a store that is almost on every other street be called 'trendy'?

Starbucks is nice, IMHO. Comfortable air conditioning/heating, nice seating, good music, fast service by peppy baristas...

The coffee is almost secondary LOL.

I go there because it's nice. Not like the Irish bar next door which is loud and dirty.

[Jenn! 918]

Didn't Starbucks stop being trendy over 10 years ago?

Seriously. I'm really missing something. People go there because they like the coffee.

I don't see how calling the coffee sizes small, medium and large and having Ann Coulter piped in as opposed to folk music will make it any less "pretentious".

Edited August 12, 2008 by Jenn!