Old friends say goodbye

"Four Friends Coffeehouse, one of the city's oldest, plans to shut its doors next week and the owner blames a dispute with the landlord."

This in the July 01, 2008 Grand Rapids Press. And it has closed 2 weeks ago. This was one of my first and best experiences in a coffee house. Though I must say it was always a bit pricey, they had some of the best coffee in town. But Four Friends more than just a coffee shop, it was an anchor to the social scene, a place where people "got it", a haven for designers, and a mecca to the first days of mocha in GR. It was a wise sage in the sea of wanna-be expresso-bars.

I wish I could write something more eloquent with this epitaph, this dirge. I wish I was a better writer so I could do this place more justice—to show the weight of it's absence. Just know that it was much like the coffee house where you and your friends find refuge from the busyness of this world and relax over a gift of warm crafted coffee that fuels the best conversations of your life.

And if you get to downtown Grand Rapids, MI and you find yourself in Rosa Park's Circle, look across Monroe Center at the door 136 and remember. This song goes out to those Four Friends who started it and to those who will look back to fond memories of being there.

Goodbye old friends you will be missed.

Starbucks and the 21st century

I am turning 30. And I feel like everything is changing around me. I remember my first car (it was a truck). I remember my first kiss. I remember having my first Mocha was in at a Cafe in Grand Rapids Community College (better than the first kiss). But I do not remember walking into my first Starbucks.

That is NOT to say that I do not respect Starbucks as a company. I do. Yes send the hate-mail now. I do like Starbucks because despite what might be said of them they are a creative well designed entity. An entity that has pushed REAL cafés into parts of America that might never know a place where kids can gather with their friends and share quality time together. Yes I said it, I think Starbucks has changed the way America does community. At a coffee shop.

So where is Starbucks now? Closing 600 stores and I hear people cheering. Why?

I think it is the fact there are SO many Starbucks out there, its growth was too aggresive, even for itself. But 600 stores closing?

Some point at the reason being the economy and I would have to half-heartedly agree. Hopefully there is a real authentic self assessment going on internally. A getting back to what is important—making great coffee. At least I hope.

You may wonder how I rate Starbucks. I do believe much of it tastes the same but there are times, yes, there are times when the Barista makes something special. I hope for those times again.

This time I will remember…