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You can't keep a Starbucks cup of coffee down - Chain to make case again for City Point license

Caught in Southie spills the beans: The Boston Licensing Board will give Starbucks another chance to grind out a case for why it deserves a license at L Street and East Broadway.

The board will hold a hearing on Aug. 17 on a proposal for a 39-seat Starbucks. The board rejected Starbucks's request for a license in May, after foaming mad residents, Mayor Walsh, city councilors Michael Flaherty and Michelle Wu and state Sen. Linda Dorcena-Forry said that intersection was already brimming over with coffee places - five within a block.

Residents also poured out their anger over the idea of a chain moving into City Point, or, at least, a chain that doesn't have locally owned franchises, like the Dunkin' Donuts a block or so away from the proposed Starbucks.

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Comments

East Boston... Starbucks please not Maverick sq or Jefferies point area, it will probably be at the Seville condos. Near shawls supermarket in lovely central Sq.

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It's South Boston - L Street and East Broadway, which for some reason I typed as "East Boston." Stupid, stupid, stupid.

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The article says L Street @ East Boston? Where is that location in South Boston. You have to leave Roslindale sometime and learn streets in South Boston.

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L Street and East Broadway. Yes, a stupid mistake. Yes, I've actually been there. No, I don't know why I typed what I did. In any case, fixed.

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Take it easy ya psycho

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I can't GET a *$ cup of coffee down. That burnt, bitter, acid just doesn't make it past my tongue. If I could get it down, yeah -- it would probably come back up.

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double parked cars going through this intersection on L street this morning. SIX. Starbucks needs to find another spot, plain and simple, they will only make it worse. Still boggles my mind that BTD doesn't just post up there in the morning, they could fund all kinds of programs just through commute time double parking tickets.

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There are plenty of people in that area of South Boston that would walk to Starbucks for a cup of coffee - it's not all about driving. That's just another excuse to keep them out.

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So happy I sold my place and left. Honestly, this Starbucks flap was the final straw.

It's such a lonely stretch of road on E. Broadway, when it should be the awesomest place in Southie.

I hope for the sake of everyone who still lives there that a Starbucks comes in and maybe bolsters that street for other successful businesses. A renovation of Stop n Shop, maybe a gym and a DECENT pizza place would make that a real neighborhood, not just a place to double park on the way to a better beach town on the weekends.

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there's already a double parking issue, why is it Starbuck's fault? Isn't the City's fault for not ticketing the double parkers that are already there? If the 6 people you counted went to Starbucks instead of Boston Bagel or Dunks, why is that a major issue?

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...I said it would make it worse. For what its worth my 6 car count did not include the Dunks' double parking, which is at the other end of the block. I'm taking about RIGHT at that intersection. Its a bad place to have 3-4 breakfast/coffee joints. I am not one of these people that abhors a Starbucks going into a particular neighborhood, I just think THAT particular location is a bad choice, 100 hundred yards in any direction fine, just not there. I think the city got this right the first time, I also think they should have let that developer open an Italian place there with a beer and wine license.
I also CLEARLY blame the city for not writing tickets on that corner. I got pulled over on E and Broadway last week for rolling through a stop sign when you HAD to roll through it to see oncoming traffic around a huge double-parked box truck. Cop was just standing there pointing people to pull over. Didn't see a ticket on the truck either. This is BS business as usual in Boston. I got a warning so I can't be too pissed. I am sure they just pull people over like that to fill quotas and see if they can get a license/ registration to "pop."

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Boston Bagel and Cranberry argued that Starbucks would take their customers, so if they're to be believed, the double-parkers will just move from in front of their establishments to Starbucks.

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They didn't actually say that in a public forum with a straight face, did they?

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One of their major complaints was how much Starbucks would hurt their business.

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Run a better business than Starbucks. Get the government teat out of your mouth.

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Cranberry cafe worried that starbucks would take customers.

Boston Bagel worried they would lose their employees, because Starbucks actually pays more! All the neighborhood kids can thank the licensing board for their lack of decent summer jobs.

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The thing about stop signs is that you still need to stop FIRST, even if you can't see clearly around the corner. Only after you've stopped should you inch forward to see if it's clear to proceed.

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I did stop, then rolled out, the cop only saw me rolling out, then pulled me over. Christ, buncha keyboard cowboys on here today.

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People who are too lazy to take a parking spot and walk cause double parking.

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Double parking should be enforced by the hack, city employees.

Bring on the Starbucks!! I can't wait to sip my soy-milk latte while working on my Mac.

Denying a starbucks is discrimination against yuppies and we will not stand for it!!!

Here we go SoBo, Here we go!

-The Original SoBo Yuppie

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Mayor Marty takes care of his base by letting them park wherever they want. That's bad enough as it is. You don't get to then use that as a way to keep out new businesses.

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At a community meeting a couple of years ago discussing adding bike lanes to Broadway (silently killed by Bill Linehan), double parking was much discussed, as a reason not to have bike lanes, because then Southie residents would lose this dear privilege (double parking is bad only when other people do it, after all). During this, a representative of BPD explained that they stopped ticketing for double parking in Southie because when they tried to crack down in the past, parking enforcement officers were assaulted by residents.

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sure can be vicious.

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Name one Bostonian who fears consequences for breaking laws.

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when they tried to crack down in the past, parking enforcement officers were assaulted by residents.

and the townies wonder why nobody has any sympathy for them when they're crying and moaning about getting priced out of the neighborhood....

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acts like it's so community-minded, with its little bulletin boards in the backs of stores and all. Then when the neighborhood, mayor, city council, etc. doesn't want one, it still fights tooth and nail.

Starbucks does not give a shit about communities, yours or any others. If you need another example, see: La Boulange.

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Let them open, they won't do any business, and then they'll close.

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could just respect the wishes of residents, city officials, etc.

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of anyone other than the loudest people at the community meeting?

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If they got a no the first time, I'd say there's probably a reason?

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That's how this works, you show up to voice your opinion.

If you don't show up, your opinion isn't counted.

From town meeting to all sorts of hearings, you attend to have your opinion heard.

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A few loudmouths, the other coffee shop owners and some out of touch politicians like Marty and Dorcena Fory are opposing it because "they would prefer an Italian restaurant". It is an almost comical abuse of power and influence.

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I'd love a mexican/burrito place, but if that's what I really wanted, I'd put some money together and lease the place.

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they are using coffee over-saturation as a reason to keep starbucks out, and yet there is an Italian restaurant a block away from this location, and another one that just opened on W Broadway.

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I'd prefer a Blockbuster video store. I demand the Mayor force the building owner to leave this space vacant until I get one...

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What's an eastsider?

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Do you prefer City Pointilist?

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There was an Italian restaurant on the corner of 4th and L that recently failed. That area is proven to not be able to support an Italian restaurant. Had a parking lot and everything.

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I was hoping for scandal of the gastrointestinal variety.

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