If and when the business does move into the building they are likely to face protests from the local community and certainly a boycott of their chain. The meeting was loud at times as the community voiced support for those who spoke for their local merchant and against Starbucks. Some speeches by representatives of Starbucks and Torrey Pines Management were met with laughter, jeers and yelling. 6 members of the San Diego Police attended the meeting. Sunday March 25th hundreds of OBceans took to the streets to oppose a Starbucks coming to the old Java Joes building at the corner of Newport and Bacon.
Local residents oppose Starbucks for many reasons.
They are paying almost double the average rent on Newport Avenue. If other land owners charge this rent to their tenants. Coupled with the increasing costs of the energy crisis it won't be long before all the local businesses are forced out. Which explains why the building has been vacant for so long. Up, High Grade Java, Coffee Post, Endless Simmer, Java Joe s, Java Beach, Jump Start Cart, OB Coffee Company, and others, not to mention Bud s ice cream which already brews Starbucks coffee.