The Boulder Independent Business Alliance want you to ignore the fact a larger store provides more tax revenue for Boulder and that means more improvements for roads, schools, senior centers, etc. You'll also have to ignore the fact that a larger store can hire more employees than a smaller store, which means more citizens of Boulder, can get jobs and spend their money in Boulder . I'd like to see somebody do that at Starbucks. Therein lies my point. The CVA implies that stores like Zoies can't compete with Starbucks simply because Starbucks is a big chain.
Experience shows differently.
Zoies is competing the way the free market dictates it should. They offer ultra-friendly customer service, big fat overstuffed chairs, a chess board, and a place where dogs are allowed to make themselves comfortable on those overstuffed chairs. All this keeps me coming back to Zoies for more, regardless of the fact there are plenty of Starbucks in the area I could frequent. If you buy that argument I have an underground bunker I can sell you to protect yourself from any unforeseen Y2K problems. This article, from the Independence Institute staff, fellows and research network, is offered for your use at no charge.