My Food Rant

I have noticed something here in New York... something interesting enough to share in a little blip... and since this is my blog... I can do that, so here I go.

With all of the coffee shops in the city that are unique in atmosphere, people who go there, flow of traffic, and offerings.... (and many are not too crowded) how does the majority choose Starbucks? Is it convenience?

Now, I reside upstairs in on the 2nd floor of a 4 story walk up building on the Upper West Side in New York. Starbucks is just on the bottom level, and I still don't have the craving or addiction to it. Granted, every 15 drinks I do get one for free.... which is smart business on Starbucks' part. However, I walk by many little hole in the walls, corner buildings of local "only in New York City" places that are half as crowded-- and smell amazing as I walk by and yet... Starbucks every one of them, a block apart from another is almost line out the door crazy.

Then, being in a city with Restaurant Row, having some of the most amazing restaurants and foods in the country.... what is packed every single day?? Chipotle! How does a restaurant, that was once upon a time owned by McDonald's Corporation, that busy and popular with all the other options around. You see more tourists in these two places than anywhere else. Now, when I was just a visitor here... or "tourist" if you will.... I would not gravitate to those places (I can get them ANYWHERE). It is about getting something you can't get anywhere else. It is what makes the city not seem so big because you have "local" things and holes in the wall...

I think for me it all comes down to that. I come from a small town... well anything is smaller than New York City, but supporting mom and pop shops and not corporate America seem the way to go. I know, I work for Verizon, another corporate giant, but I feel like it is more odd to go to run of the mill, every day places than ones where there is none like it. I know the choco bar on Broadway has great dark espresso.... but doesn't mean I can get the same taste somewhere else. Maybe that is what it is.... consistency.

Starbucks who is known for lowering the quality of their product and raising the cost of the product is consistent for that. I even think they stopped their "legendary service" moniker because they just want you in and they want you out. However, you can go anywhere in the world and most likely.... your grande vanilla latte with soy is going to taste exactly the same... brown milk with some sugar.  It is comfortable, it is what we know... we ook for green mermaid cups and know that Starbucks can't be far behind. We go to Chipotle because it is a get you in and get you out place. No need to connect with anyone, it is an assembly line up to get a burrito and be on your way.

I want to challenge friends and whomever gazes on this... go local... for 1 month. Support local business, try new food, don't go to fast foods, go to that hole in the wall place that seems dim... you never know what you will find. Perhaps expanding your horizons will be a good change for you :)