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Updated 10.25am
A NUMBER OF cafés in Dublin city centre are giving out free coffee this morning in protest against the expansion of Starbucks outlets across the capital.
The initiative was organised by Ciaran Hogan, who set up the Clockwork Door on Wellington Quay last October. He told TheJournal.ie that initially it was just his café due to give away coffee to promote the business, after he heard that another Starbucks was to open nearby on Crampton Quay. There are currently just over 50 Starbucks open in Dublin.
Participants include Clockwork Door, CoCo Brew, Foam Café on Strand St (1-2pm and 5-7pm) and Gallagher and Co on D’Olier St (1-2pm and 5-7pm).
The free coffee morning then grew to include other cafés after he spoke to other business owners about the issue.
Hogan said he believes that the model of allowing multiple cafés from the same chain to open in Dublin is “drowning out the small independent businesses that are trying to give the city its wonderful character and vibrancy”.
“I see that everything is becoming monotone, by procedure and there’s no colour and flavour and there’s nothing unique about Dublin,” he said.
Hogan hasn’t talked to Dublin City Council to date about his concerns. However, he said he was partly inspired by the recent success of the campaign to save trees in Fairview. This campaign succeeded after concerned locals put pressure on the council over the issue.
“We are doing this action to show [people] that small independent places are alive, we are around, we need your support – because it’s going to have to be a customer-driven thing,” said Hogan of today’s initiative.
‘It’s ridiculous’
He said that the “enthusiasm and eagerness” of other businesses had to join him surprised him. “We are all a community of people who have put in our life savings or all our hard work, or years of our time to just get by,” he said.
Hogan said that there is a point on O’Connell Bridge “where you have line of sight to five Starbucks locations”.
“It’s getting to the point where it’s ridiculous. I can’t blame Starbucks, they are a company, they make money, that’s their model,” he said. But he said he feels that there should be a restriction on how many outlets from one café chain can open in the capital.
Hogan has been giving out the free coffee this morning and said he has been “getting a lot of feedback and a lot of people saying ‘yes, I support local places’”.
“Dublin people I think realise that there is definitely a need and a reason for the small independent places that give the city colour and flavour and its own style,” he said. “If everything was bought over by chains and everything was uniform and policy it would ruin the city.”
He said his business has “had no support, no handouts, no government support for small business, for someone who is really trying on their own”.
Asked about the initiative, Starbucks said:
We are proud to be part of Dublin’s vibrant coffee culture. Whilst we are not the biggest coffee brand in Dublin, it’s great to see many independents and brands raising the bar with innovation and coffee quality, giving Irish customers even more choice.
With the 15 new positions this new Starbucks on Crampton Quay will create when it opens, we will have over 800 baristas delivering a fantastic experience for our customers around Ireland.
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Anyone who goes to Starbucks hasn’t had coffee before, if they had they’d never darken their door again.
@Atheos Euripides: You are entitled to your opinion Auntie Oz…
@Atheos Euripides: This must be the first time I can wholly agree with your comment ッ
@Patrick Cat #2: but isn’t this one of your first comments?
@Atheos Euripides: I prefer tweeks coffee – like an old jumper that gets warmer with age – tweeks coffee Sure, we may take a little longer to brew a cup, and we may not call it fancy names, but I guess they just care a little more. And that’s why Tweek Coffee is still home-brewed from the finest beans they can muster – its country fresh – like a rainstorm.
@Dave O Keeffe: Not at all, my previous account was “Patrick Cat” which the Journal banned for not being PC enough and “Martin” is my current account showing as above
@Kevin Kane: It’s ‘coffee’ like The Script make ‘music’ I suppose, each to their own.
@Atheos Euripides: Sometimes a hot cup of French Roast Amaretto is just what a man needs to get him through the day. That smooth aroma and mild
taste is what make Tweek coffee…very special. Special, like an Arizona sunrise or a juniper wet with dew. A light rain in the middle of a dusty afternoon or a hug from your dear old aunt.
@Flourish: If Starbucks comes in and gets rid of tweeks coffee they may have to close down and sell their son into slavery. They sure have the owners balls in a vice grip.
@Patrick Cat #2: eh, this one isn’t Martin. Three accounts then is it?
@Old Gabby Johnson: Tweeks coffee isn’t bad but Starbucks coffee doesn’t have that mouldy diarrhoea taste
@Liam flag: added sweeteners clear that right up for them
@Atheos Euripides: Yes Atheos those 4 billion cups (approx.) they sell annual are to coffee philistines , if only they knew how stupid and devoid in taste they were…… , in the pantheon of arrogant statements that right up there!
@Tensing Norgay: while on the subject of cups, do they offer a discount if you bring your own? Are their cups biodegradable? Recyclable?
@Dave O Keeffe: Is that a rethorical question because I dont know? , shamefully i just like the odd starbucks coffee, but be sure to put that in the suggestion box
@Dave O Keeffe: Ok I’ll take it extra slow for you: The first account has been banned by Journal and is scrapped, the current account is Patrick Cat #2 alas its name has changed from Martin because I wanted to retain similarity to my first account. And by the way, it’s not against the low to have 10′s of accounts if I so wished
@Atheos Euripides: agree
@Atheos Euripides: purse muck. Totally agree. Yet for some totally inexplicable reason people do go in and spend money?
@Sean: Give me freeze-dried over that gick any day of the week.
If the indie coffee shops stayed open past 4pm, there wouldn’t be a problem
@Grumpy Bollovks: You’re right. Although I wouldn’t go to Starbucks, it’s still one of the few places to go for a chat that isn’t a pub.
@Grumpy Bollovks: Must be great to work in Starbucks night shifts..
@Grumpy Bollovks: agreed, here in Dublin it’s hard to find somewhere to have coffee in the evening. So it’s either a pub or Starbucks to meet up in
Fair play for some positive action. Can’t understand why anyone goes to Starbucks. Coffee is crap.
@john Appleseed: Starbucks coffee is like ditchwater
@john Appleseed: Crap AND hella expensive.
@john Appleseed:
He has a point, but then why not just let people vote with their feet?
@john Appleseed: Starbucks coffee is muck, but the thing is they wouldn’t be opening if there wasn’t a demand! Properly due to a lot of American tourists in Dublin as well.
I live in Manchester. I can only think of two independent coffee shops in the parts of the city I frequent. You couldn’t walk across the street however, without passing a chain coffee shop. Any resistance to this sort of anodyne high Street chain shit is fine by me.
@Conor Finlay: London is the same. It’s actually awful how dominated by chains the city is, and I wouldn’t normally be the type to moan about that sort of thing. Everything is a chain. Even pubs that look original and independent will have a branded food menu you’ve seen a million times.
When I walk out of my office in London it’s the same handful of coffee shops and lunch places you see on every high street across the city. In fact, if you continue walking down the street the shops start the repeat themselves.
Compared to London Dublin has a massive selection of independent coffee shops but I fear it’s only a matter of time.
Awful coffee, awful organisation.
@Nick Allen: agreed. Yet so may eejits go. Appalling coffee.
@Nial D: I agree Nial, they don’t even have any nescafe gold blend only fools go there.
@Nick Allen: Corpo-RAT-ions are cool now, that’s our current social and economic climate – people tend to give up their independence and freedom to put food on the table and roof over their heads. Sad times.
Come on it’s not North Korea, they can open as much as they want. Compete on unique product, customer service or menu selection. There are 100 Starbucks, but none serves great breakfast or brunch food for example (and let’s even leave coffee aside for moment).
It’s always some mediocre old sandwich, or not even a great cake. Think of some cheap but healthy and tasty food for example as addition to the great coffee. People would be flocking in.
@Tomasz Kuchnik:
You are right it is not NK but should we try and keep Dublin a little unique? If Starbucks continues its expansion then the smaller shops will close down and everywhere will be a Starbucks. Its nice to have a little variety
@Tomasz Kuchnik: It is North Korea unfortunately or will be pretty soon. Growing power of corporations like Starbucks can overwhelm independent local bodies like City Councils or Planning Boards and then we will watch, listen, eat, drink, live and believe what They will tell us.
@Nick Allen: Problem is people seem to like it… I live in Rathmines, and I was giving out stink when a second starbucks opened in a site less that 200 yards from their first one. But everyday, both of them are very busy.
What does need to be done, is close the loophole Starbucks is exploiting in terms of Tax. Starbucks in this country is seemingly losing money…
How is this possible? Because they have to pay large licensing fees to other international branches of the same company. So Starbucks makes loads of money, but individual bits look like they are losing money, therefore not tax liable.
Do they even have the permission to be open? Awful staff and coffee as well
@Barry Walsh: what’s wrong with the staff?
@Michael Geraghty:
I have been to 5 or 6 and I am not expecting to be treated like a king or anything but they sigh really loudly taking an order, Act like they like you are the most annoying thing of all time, Take Insomnia at least the are polite to customers.
@Barry Walsh: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 5 or 6 times…….hmmmm.
@Barry Walsh: Well you can’t blame the Starbucks staff for being rude.
They are on minimum wage, zero hour contracts. They have absolutely zero incentive to anything more than the bare minimum.
Not a big Starbucks fan but stop them expanding? Get a grip! It’s up to the smaller independents to offer something a bit more special and punters will come in the door. Competition is fierce in all sections of retail.
@Richard Wright: I was in another Irish city recently needed a quick coffee & sandwich at 5pm, popped into 3 small coffee shops and an O’ Briens, all looked very inviting, but got the same answer at all doors ” we’re closing” ” ovens are off”
spotted Starbucks, open for business, nothing any trouble, sit & relax as long as you like, I would much prefer to use small local business, but if they do not provide the service customers want they can not compete, madness closing your doors when Starbucks across the road is open and loads of people on the street.
@Grumpyoldtroll: for every cup of coffee sold in Starbucks 1 Palestinian child dies. And it’s fronted by isis (Osiris’ missus)
@Richard Wright: it is enough for me that’s my point, if you are offering something different and of a higher standard then why whinge about competition on the high street. Business is business, are we going to tell global retailers they’re not allowed in because they squeeze the little guy?
was in another Irish city recently needed a quick coffee & sandwich at 5pm, popped into 3 small coffee shops and an O’ Briens, all looked very inviting, but got the same answer at all doors ” we’re closing” ” ovens are off”
spotted Starbucks, open for business, nothing any trouble, sit & relax as long as you like, would much prefer to use small local business, but if they do not provide the service customers want they can not compete,
@Charlotte Warrington: you said that already.
@Charlotte Warrington: Definitely agree the independent coffee shops need to take a look at their opening hours.
Far better coffee in even your local Spar or Centra , even Mc Donalds used to do a good coffee ,
The cappuccino ain’t bad in Burger King either Pat and well priced. One on O Connell St. open 24 hours I think not a bad spot for 30 minutes passing through town.
Starbucks operates the cancer business model (or at least did in its early days).
They target a city, find out where the independent coffee houses are and will strategically overwhelm the competition – by opening 3 branches of the chain close to the competition but then shutting 2 when the competition has gone bust.
It is in fact an anti-competitive.
Also the drinks they serve are swill; and they are an eyesore.
Not to mention that we don’t know if Starbucks engages in human exploitation by hiring people on zero hour, minimum wage contracts. They probably do.
It’s been that way for years all across the cities that Starbucks enter. They flood the market so much with their brand that other retailers can’t hold onto the clients. Then when all the other coffee shops are closed down due to lack of business the Starbucks chain will start to close their shops so all the customers come to 1 or 2 branches in an area rather than spreading their money around 4 or 5 branches. It’s quite a genius business model that works!
I’m doing a big fry-up in protest against Chopped expansion. All welcome.
@Seán O’Connor: can I have mine as a smoothie?
That’s an awful latte outlets !
@Paraic Joyce: that’s such a frappe joke
These chains are destroying the character of our high streets ,I agree with mr hogan ,we should not allow these international franchises to monopolise our cities and towns .
How are they allowed to run rampant through the city???? Great little country for big business
What a great idea but should this protest be done the week the new Starbucks open rather than when PP is announced? Or am I missing something here…?
@Vic’s Burd:
Do Starbucks actually go through the planning process or do they apply retrospectively
@Nick Allen: I believe the two Irish brothers own the rights to open Starbucks in Ireland – they have opened a number of shops and then dealt with the issue of planning / permission after the fact
@Paul Murphy:
They need to be closed and face massive fines for doing that.
If they want to promote a uniquely Irish product, could they not give away Irish coffees?
If these independent coffee shops are as great as people seem to think they are, they should have no problem competing with the likes ofStarbucks. Unless, of course, all the people on here who claim to dislike Starbucks are lying.
Agreed. Coffee snobs are complete phonies.
They say Starbucks “tastes like sh*t – not real coffee”, but 95% of them wouldn’t pass a blind taste test.
David Mitchell summed it up well.
https://youtu.be/iX0TjGEBITg?t=140
@Ryan Boyle: You’re right, there’s many that can’t tell the difference and probably buy the kip Budweiser for the very same reasons. But if one can’t tell the difference, why not to buy a coffee in your local Centra for €2.50 instead of letting Starbucks charge you 4 quid, doing the right thing and save yourself 40% in the process
Perhaps the Clockwork Door should consider opening up the shop earlier I personally agree that Starbucks coffee is terrible but they open at 7am The early bird catches the worm…..
@Kevin Bodenham: but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese
I’d rather go local than a Starbucks, but as already stated, the local coffee shops need to sort themselves out. I drink filter coffee and it’s impossible to get it in my local places. You ask for a filter black coffee and they tell you they only do Americanos.
@Treabhair Coulahan: Filter coffee? You on your period?
How about the independent coffee shops offer a free coffee when you order something else (e.g. a cake or food), or if the customer hands over their Starbucks card they get a free coffee :-)
Foam needs to sort out their awful customer service and stale cakes before they complain about competition
Surely all the coffee experts in the comments here would be able to keep them in business?
@Tom Nelligan: No. Proper lattes supposed to have a shot of strong espresso. How many cups do you think you can have of an instant coffee?
Bizzare approach to competition which will ultimately fail, but a few free coffee’s always welcome
There’s nowhere to go after 6 for a coffee in Dublin, except to a pub, or to Starbucks.
Starbucks coffee is absolute muck. Scarlet for anyone that gives them their hard earned money.
Scarlet for anyone who still says “scarli for yi”, who isn’t a middle aged fat bird from Clondalkin.
Paper cups. Work of Satan
@Kevin Slater: all take-away cups are paper.
If people stop going in to starbucks they’ll be gone by the end of the year. Independent coffee shops should open later this will help stave off Starbucks.
Certainly this article and free coffee should get them more customers. I haven’t heard about most of these places before and now I even know where are located
Dont drink coffee..dont care
@Barry O Rourke: people who don’t care just move along. They don’t post about not caring – because they, y’know, actually don’t care.
@Ryan Boyle: thanks for caring
Good free coffee is always welcomed. Hopefully the campaign will raise awareness of coffee shop chains practices but I doubt it.
The only thing the Butler brothers who own the company responsible for Starbucks / TGI’s / HardRock and many more restaurants / cafes care about is money, let’s face it.
It’s greed & sadly the charming city we know will be changed.
Imagine this was happening to pubs?…
This proves the local cafes should be supported & a boycott of Starbucks should happen….
Time for Tim Hortons to enter the Irish cafe market.
there’s a Starbucks in my office!! only for staff!
Starbucks is sh£te
I don’t drink American style watery coffee ..
I object to having to risk burning my hand pulling the large plastic container away from the half litre of boiling water that automatically follows on from the mini deal of coffee..
I put Starbucks in the same category as Sky TV, the Sun tabloid, McDonalds Coca Cola .. nothing to do with civilisation..
Independent coffee shops, cafes, restaurants are ALWAYS nicer
He’s right. Been to a British city recently? It’s the same 5 or 6 chain stores on practically every street. Dublin is starting to resemble it. We don’t have to be another clone town.
Having said that, the independent coffee shops and Irish-owned chains should at the very least provide a similar service to Starbucks in terms of consistency, opening hours and things like wi-fi. The green jersey tactic doesn’t work well for long.
I agree . This country is looking after the bigger businesses. Many are into opening many shops in the hope of killing off the small (local family in many cases ) business . The big guys want it all to themselves and unfortunately there is an element of greed involved . If we look around us its not only the coffee business . There are many other small independent retailers in the same boat. Of coarse the planners or others don’t seem to care about the small business . When it’s too late those people in the planning system etc will ask why is our income from rates dropping . Why have all our family’s moved away or immigrated. BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES SHUT BY THE CHAIN GANG. I REPEAT IT’S NOT JUST COFFEE.
It’d be nice to find somewhere open after working hours. Went looking for somewhere to get a coffee and sit down with mates and the only place we could find was Starbucks on College Green and even that was closing early.
But there’s a lovely little coffee shop near the job, Le Petit Cafe, give them my business when I can.
Or grab a coffee for 1.50 from the machine in Chapter and Verse. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever had and cheaper when you add up the price of coffee everyday in the morning.
Forget Starbucks…..The Kid from Brooklyn goes to Pancake House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DyG60KT-MY
Fair play great effort , I try my best to support all local businesses as Ireland is fast becoming part of the industrial machine that cares only for profits margins. The city will lose its character die to globalisation.
Starbucks is muck!
Starbucks has comfy chairs and most importantly sockets – it has in so many countries been a refuge when I needed to hop on some wifi to book a flight or figure out where the hell I am… would I use it when grabbing a quick coffee enroute to the office? hell no but it’s certainly got its third space model that trumps 99% of irish coffee shops experience wise.
Most independent coffee shops are dark… filled with small crap tables / dodjy chairs and are not the kind of place you would want to spend time.
I’m all for the small business to succeed but taste alone isn’t enough – they need to get their act together instead of whinging about big business.. maybe attempt to make anything after I buy the cup of coffee good in their stores… such as some comfy chairs and a place worth hanging out in. – off the top of my head accents & coffee2go are the only two spots worth meeting someone in other then the chains…
Dude coffee is coffee I don’t care where from as long as I have a big cup full of it in the morning no one gets hurt .
If you want to know about Starbucks just listen to Neil Youngs A Rock Star Bucks coffee shop and their connection to Monsanto
@Tensing Norgay: *rhetorical
@Conor Finlay: moose coffee york street
Ring a ring a Rosie…
have your say