Saturday, April 16, 2005

Seminole Heights Starbucks and Art

Tampa Trib did a story Council OKs Starbucks For Seminole Heights.

Some Ideas:

To make this Starbucks more unique and more Seminole Heightsian I propose the following:

1. If there is enough room, Starbucks buys existing or commissions some new outdoor art from Seminole Heights Artists, and places in it the outdoor eating and grassy areas.

2. If there is room and if it meets corporate standards, place on the walls Burgert Brother's photographs. However don't use the photos everyone has of downtown Tampa. Use some of ones that Steve Gluckman has unearthed of Seminole Heights. This is to show old Seminole Heights.

3. Place on the walls the photos of the houses on both home tours (Old and Southeast). Each year change them out for latest homes on the tours. This is to show the current Seminole Heights. (If South Seminole Heights has a home tour add theirs.)

4. Place on the walls artwork from Seminole Heights that is illustrative of Seminole Heights or repesents the values seen in Seminole Heights.

5. Maybe Starbucks could join the brochure that Sherry Taylor-King put out listing the Seminole Heights Businesses on Florida Avenue. Starbucks would have copies of the brochure for its customers.

So why would Starbucks do this?

Because we gave them a big victory they can trumpet when they go into other neighborhoods. They can use what was said in this meeting by us and city Council when they go into any other historic neighborhood.

Because it would show how much they care about neighborhoods.

Because people might stay longer to look at the art and photos and buy more.

Because in the Best of the Bay edition the Weekly Planet would have to call this the best and most interesting Starbucks in Tampa and more people would come to the store.

Or simply because we asked.

When they break ground there ought to be a ceremony and the various presidents of the civic associations, and business alliance, city council members and mayor ought to be there. Along with the biggest Starbucks big cheese (or would that the Corporate Grande') they can find. How about Howard Schultz - Chairman, Orin C. Smith - President, Chief Executive Officer or Jim Donald - President, Starbucks North America.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is so well written, the ideas are so great, and you are correct this is how it SHOULD be.

I hate to be so cynical, but that is exactly why it never will. I know everyone loves to bash the ARC, but this in effect was the message they were trying to send:"Ask for more. You'll never get it if you don't ask."

Now that the neighborhood has jumped through hoops for a developer, the corporate entity will nodd, say "we'll certainly give that consideration" and proceed to completely and absolutely IGNORE all your fine suggestions/ideas. Even when you hand them the marketing/positive p.r. ideas, that they could make hay with while the sun is shining with very little effort, they will not bother.

Sorry- but as a survivor Fortune 100 corporate america, I speak from experience.

This entity is no more interested in our neighborhood than a Carrollwood or New Tampa resident is. Our neighborhood is just a place to make money off of, and pass on through.

Please understand- I'm not opposed to the Starbucks. I just wistfully sigh to read this great post and think "God, wouldn't it be great if it rolled out that way."

I HOPE folks reading this will get behind you, and make this happen. How much you want to bet that now that they know the project's going on, they can't be bothered to keep pushing Starbucks corporate and convince them to do a better store?

The time to negotiate with these folks is when they are pushing for a PARTICULAR PARCEL. The HIGHWAY is the key here. They don't give a rat's patootie about Seminole Heights. The neighborhood is just something that happens to be around.

You are right- money talks. But their projections are on morning drive cars; not on the neighborhood.

sorry. Just telling it like it is.

Anonymous said...

This is so well written, the ideas are so great, and you are correct this is how it SHOULD be.

I hate to be so cynical, but that is exactly why it never will. I know everyone loves to bash the ARC, but this in effect was the message they were trying to send:"Ask for more. You'll never get it if you don't ask."

Now that the neighborhood has jumped through hoops for a developer, the corporate entity will nodd, say "we'll certainly give that consideration" and proceed to completely and absolutely IGNORE all your fine suggestions/ideas. Even when you hand them the marketing/positive p.r. ideas, that they could make hay with while the sun is shining with very little effort, they will not bother.

Sorry- but as a survivor Fortune 100 corporate america, I speak from experience.

This entity is no more interested in our neighborhood than a Carrollwood or New Tampa resident is. Our neighborhood is just a place to make money off of, and pass on through.

Please understand- I'm not opposed to the Starbucks. I just wistfully sigh to read this great post and think "God, wouldn't it be great if it rolled out that way."

I HOPE folks reading this will get behind you, and make this happen. How much you want to bet that now that they know the project's going on, they can't be bothered to keep pushing Starbucks corporate and convince them to do a better store?

The time to negotiate with these folks is when they are pushing for a PARTICULAR PARCEL. The HIGHWAY is the key here. They don't give a rat's patootie about Seminole Heights. The neighborhood is just something that happens to be around.

You are right- money talks. But their projections are on morning drive cars; not on the neighborhood.

sorry. Just telling it like it is.