bye bye, $tarbuck$

It was about three years ago at this time that we welcomed the first $tarbuck$ to our fine community. I rejoiced, not because I am an addict, but because at the time having a $tarbuck$ actually meant something.

It’s no surprise to me that with the Seattle coffee giant closing 600 stores across the country that one is shutting its doors right here in C-U. And it doesn’t shock me one bit that the store that is affected is the one at Marketplace Mall.

The reason? Although the foot traffic is great for business, there is a stand-alone store 1.1 miles away, one that is close to the Interstate and has a drive-thru. That is truly the model for the “rural” $tarbuck$ since it started expanding that direction earlier this decade.

If you look at the list of store closures, there are a number of mall outlets. It’s hard to say if this is because the company has an abundance of mall stores, or if it relates to the current state of the economy (fewer mallers) , lease issues, etc. To be sure it is a combination of factors.

I will miss that location, even if I haven’t been to the mall in literally months and try to avoid it at all costs because of TTATM. However, if I had to go there, I knew I could count on that bathroom in the center of the mall — a hot commodity to me these days.