10 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - A grassroots campaign is underway to keep a Starbucks open in Sacramento's Oak Park -- a coffee shop that Mayor Kevin Johnson often touted as a success in his efforts to renovate his boyhood neighborhood.
The Seattle-based coffee giant announced earlier this month the closure of 300 Starbucks companywide, and seven stores in the Sacramento region, including the Oak Park Starbucks.
Al Williamson who manages the Guild Theater, which is part of the commercial complex that houses the Starbucks, is the driving force behind the online petition drive. He said the presence of Starbucks has helped improve the neighborhood's image.
"It's critical to have a brand name people recognize. It's makes people feel at ease, especially for those who haven't been to Oak Park before," Williamson said.
The petition calls on neighbors to show their support of the Oak Park coffee shop by gathering 1,000 signatures in 24 hours. Williamson said the petition went online Wednesday and within the first few hours, picked up more than 100 signatures. Click here for the Starbucks petition.
News10 asked Starbucks to respond to the petition drive and in an e-mail, spokeswoman Tara Darrow said the company appreciates the "community's enthusiasm and creativity to work to keep this location open."
But the e-mail goes on to say, "As we told Mayor Johnson's office, we will continue to monitor this location and this decision, but at this time no stores have been or will be removed from the closure list."
Johnson often mentioned the Oak Park Starbucks when he campaigned for mayor as an example of a corporate investment that helped turn around a once-blighted corner off Broadway. Johnson said he personally called Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and asked that the coffee chain invest in the neighborhood's revitalization.
"This is more than a coffee shop," said the mayor's spokesman, Steve Maviglio. "It's the hub of the community. The community is going all out to save this store."
Johnson will appear on Wednesday's Live_Online at 5 p.m. for his weekly appearance. Click here to join the online conversation.
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