Probably. What could possibly go wrong with this great idea?
Posted on 07/17/2015 5:45:40 AM PDT by Citizen Zed
Starbucks said Thursday it’s opening stores in 15 poor and middle-class inner-city locations across the USA, including one in Ferguson, Mo., as part of its bid to integrate more disadvantaged youths into the workforce. But now Starbucks is aiming to have a lasting impact on the community.
The new store, set to open early next year at 10776 West Florissant Avenue, near Interstate 270, will be larger than a standard Starbucks by about 300 to 400 square feet.
Starbucks spokeswoman Laurel Harper said details are not yet available on when the central Phoenix Starbucks location will close for renovations, specifically when it will reopen, and how much renovations are going to cost. The first stores are expected to open next year. Starbucks will also partner with local youth services organizations and government to leverage existing programs that help connect youth with internships, apprenticeships and jobs in the community and foster the type of dialogue and engagement needed for continued social change. “We’re looking for a three-way win here – the community wins, the individuals who are hired win and the companies win”. The company will also work with minority women and contractors for the design of these new locations.
Starbucks invested $250 million to help at least 25,000 partners, many of them opportunity youth, receive a bachelor’s degree by 2025. This Starbucks location is unique in that it will focus on hiring and training underserved young people. “These young people are often neglected, especially those who are no longer in school or unable to find jobs, and are not being trained to be productive citizens in the workplace. This is further proof that when the public and private sectors come together to invest in communities, we can create new jobs and economic resources that will spur economic growth into the future”, said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Howard Bailey employs a half a dozen young people at his new cafe in Englewood. “We look forward to welcoming Starbucks to our Englewood community and share in their ongoing commitment to the training, employment and education of our nation’s youth”. That employment, the company says, will provide “a new pathway to opportunity through training and development, meaningful career options and industry-leading benefits”.
In Chicago, Starbucks has picked a location in the heart of the city’s Englewood neighborhood, a predominantly African-American community which has suffered from blight and a reputation for violence in recent years. Phoenix was chosen because it has the highest percentage of opportunity youth as a fraction of the city’s population, Taylor said.
At present, the USA has 5.6 million youth in the 16-24 age group who are out of school and not working.
Schultz, who in the past has spoken out on support for legalizing same-sex marriage and stricter gun laws, has signaled in recent months that he plans to use the weight of Starbucks and his family foundation to tackle the issue of youth unemployment.
The stores are meant to be more than just the typical coffee shop.
How thick is the plexiglass around the order/check out?
Well, it would be great for the kids if it works, but how many people in “low income” neighborhoods are going to spend $4-$6 on a cup of specialty coffee? Will they take EBT cards?
Gun-Free Zones of course.
Any company that opens a business to “create jobs” will not be in business very long.
A business is established to make money - period.
Probably. What could possibly go wrong with this great idea?
Will workers be allowed to carry...or will they just have armed guards on duty? Seems there are better ways to deal with inner city problems...we’ll see how long they last.
Is Starbucks going to put its staff behind bulletproof glass and serve its “coffee” through a slot? and/or will there be armed guards? What will that do for the ambience? Will the guys with hoodies and guns and bats be lined up outside? Will clerks be assured that their survivors will be well taken care of?
This policy will be rescinded slowly...but only after dozens of dead and beaten naive Starbucks employees’ families sue them enough for the bean counters to say “we are losing money, this was a bad idea-we can’t sell enough coffee to pay for funerals, hospital bills, and law suits in these zip codes”......but they will never say that, but they will close them slowly.
Marketing directors are usually pretty bright people.
They usually make decisions based on whats best for the company. (I wish they would just say ‘ghetto’... stop being a wimp and just say it)
HOW IN SAM-HELL does ‘low income communities’ compute with Starbucks? They don’t go together. White females from Suburbia, Starbuck’s main market segment, are not going to drive to the ghetto to get coffee.
Has Politically Correctness latched on to them so strongly that they risk financial damage to the company?
I presume that coffee will be served with taxpayer dollars, one way or another - EBT cards, tax incentives, grants, etc.
Arugula and cucumber sandwiches should also be big hits in Ferguson, Starbucks.
Bad coffee and leftist politics driving business decisions. What could go wrong?
Sure, why not? Their coffee(s) are so good, rich (relatively speaking) people will drive to the ‘hood to get them.
“Will they take EBT cards?”
Unfortunately, EBT cards are the driving force in many small town communities across the country. Dollar Store, Dollar General and such are the only companies opening stores in small towns. And they are targeting EBT and other welfare dollars.
Great economy these bastard democrats have brought to the U.S.
Besides that, the job of a corporation is not to create jobs, rather it is to create income for the shareholders. More often than not, jobs are created as a by product of earning income.
But, opening locations strictly to create jobs is not a good business practice.
Or will they charge less?
Why? Did someone sue or threaten to sue?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.