Sunday 20 October 2013

DEAR STARBUCKS.....

September 22, 2012
Dear Starbucks,
Uxbridge, Ontario has a population of 19,075, a charming old main street - the perfect coffee shop locale - and one massively successful Tim Hortons. You are most definitely missing the boat here. May I respectfully suggest that consideration be given to a Starbuck's location in our town.
Yours truly,
Daphne Lockett
I am not and never have been a Tim Horton's coffee fan. Okay, you don't have to yell. Acutely aware of the shame of it, I feel positively anti-Canadian with that admission. I hang my head! 
Suffering from severe Starbuck's withdrawal after our move last year, I actually emailed the above to Starbucks Canada. Just call me delusional. Can I blame 'moving fatigue'? No response, by the way, from their corporate headquarters was ever received. Go figure!
In October, 2012, I finally began exploring our new town on foot. Stopping into the small shops along our main street, introducing myself to proprietors, I found some true treasures, the Passionate Chef, Blue Heron Books, to name a few.  More on those later. En route, I was stopped in my tracks by the wafting scent of freshly brewed coffee - 'good' freshly brewed coffee. And there it was, a sign for the Tin Cup Caffe. How had I missed this when driving by? 
My now overly stimulated caffeine addiction prodded me on and I descended a quaint wooden staircase whose creaking announced my arrival. A combination of happy noise and activity greeted me. Hungrily, I inhaled the atmosphere of grinding coffee beans, the hiss of escaping steam as milk was heated, and friendly chatter. The warm, inviting decor offered up old world charm, but most certainly with a funky, modern bent. Local artwork and amusing signs adorned the walls. An eclectic mixture of chairs, comfy sofas and tables invited clientele to linger over a cup, catching up on iPhone messages, answering emails on their laptops or chit chatting with friends. Had I just died and gone to heaven?
A year later and I am a regular. The warm cozy atmosphere is a great place to meet friends. After a few visits, the welcoming, efficient girls behind the counter know what you like. Hungry? Sandwiches, paninis, yummy homemade soups, and freshly baked desserts, provided by the Tin Mill restaurant, are also available. Whether it is for an iced caffe latte in the summer at an outdoor table, a coffee with a friend after swimming or a hot chocolate before the local Santa Claus Parade, I have found my coffee shop!
September, 2013
Dear Starbucks,
Don't bother!
Daphne Lockett






1 comment:

  1. Hi Daphne, greetings from Northern Ontario. I'm just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

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