Hey Burbank, How About No More Starbucks?

How many Starbucks does Burbank need? Like, for real, Burbank. How many is too many? I love me a caramel machiatto from the ‘Bucks just like many of you, but you know what I love more? Small Business owners.

Did you know that as of today, Burbank has 20 locations to purchase a Starbucks drink? We have brick and mortar buildings as well as locations inside grocery stores. As a matter of fact, at the Lakeside Shopping center on Pass ave, we have a full Starbucks AS WELL AS a Starbucks counter inside Vons…you know, the grocery store right next door?

In my news feed today, I’ve become aware that there is an application to the city for another drive thru Starbucks in Magnolia Park. We already have two drive-thru locations. What are the odds this will be approved? Probably pretty high, I say. What would approving a new Starbucks do for Burbank? It would put money in its pocket. Am I right?

Money. That’s what talks here. Am I bothered by this? You betcha. I’ve lived here for 20 years. My adult life has been spent in this city and I’m raising my children here. I see people I know everywhere I go and Burbank is my home. But I know as well as those who have spent their entire lives here, money in the pocket of the city takes priority. It is, after all, a business right?

I’m not mad at Starbucks, they’re doing what Starbucks does. It’s a business (Just like the City) And I love coffee. Love it. Ask anyone who knows me…coffee and chocolate. I actually really love Starbucks. We live walking distance to one of the 20 we already have. I bet most of you, who live in Burbank, do too. But that’s not what is bothering me. It’s the fact that we’ve lost so very many small businesses to the larger companies coming in. As a resident, I just don’t believe we need a 21st location in Burbank.

Surviving COVID has been hard enough for locally-owned businesses in general, including coffee shops.
Check out the video above for some of my favorite small coffee shops here in Burbank.

And here’s a list of coffee shops in Burbank that you can visit alongside the 20 Starbucks we have already:

The Ugly Mug Coffeehouse
3112 W. Burbank Blvd

Simply Coffee
940 N. Lima Street

Coffee Commissary
3121 W. Olive Ave

Blvd Cafecito
3210 W. Magnolia Blvd

Priscilla’s Gourmet Coffee
4150 W. Riverside

Romancing The Bean
3413 W. Magnolia Blvd

San Marco Coffee
401A N. Glenoaks Blvd

The Palm Coffee Bar
2922 W. Magnolia Blvd

Le French Rooster
2221 W. Olive Ave.

Another Broken Egg Cafe
250 E. Olive Ave

Basecamp and High Horse Dinette
1221 W. Riverside Dr.

New Burbank Starbucks Project Information

The project planner’s name is David Kim.
818.238.5250 dkim@burbankca.gov

You can see the full plans of this project HERE:
www.burbankca.gov/pendingprojects

There is a community meeting on Wednesday, August 11th at 6pm. Information for that meeting will be posted on the website www.burbankca.gov/pendingprojects

I’m pretty sure what the community says on this won’t matter much. This is based on all of the projects and issues facing the community I’ve seen completely dismissed over the last 20 years. Yeah, I’m really bothered by this. I’m not saying to not shop Starbucks. I’m just saying we definitely don’t need another one.