Coffee saturates Main Gate area, cafe owner says

Rose Easterbrook, owner of Cafe Paraiso, 800 E. University Blvd., said the area near the Main Gate Center has too many coffeehouses and cafes.

The one-block area includes Cafe Latte, Dunkin Donuts and The Coffee Plantation, as well as Paraiso, all of which offer similar products.

According to the Marshall Foundation, the main University Boulevard-area landlord, there are more on the way.

Foundation President Charles Jackson said last month he expected national coffeehouse giant Starbucks to move into the Geronimo courtyard next semester.

Cafe Paraiso sits across the courtyard.

Eastbrook said the Starbucks news followed assurances by the foundation that a Starbucks was not going on to their property.

She said foundation spokesman Don Semro told her the new cafe was going into a different location east of Paraiso.

Eastbrook said Semro told her, "We don't own that building and we don't control it."

The foundation, however, owns the courtyard space.

"It's like a slap across my face," said Easterbrook, adding the Marshall Foundation had always treated her well in the past.

Semro would not comment on the alleged conversation with Easterbrook or on coffee saturation in the area. He added the Starbucks deal is not final.

Eastbrook said she sees the Starbucks move as part of a foundation plan push out locally owned businesses in favor of national chains.

"They (the foundation) are being unfair to small independent business," she said.

Easterbrook said she recently signed a three-year lease on the three spaces she uses, adding she is angry that the foundation did not notify her of Starbucks plans before she signed the lease. Despite the aggravation, Easterbrook said she welcomes the competition, adding Paraiso sales are up 35 percent since The Coffee Plantation chain moved in across the street.

She said was confident about the quality of her product and said that would keep her afloat despite the heavy competition, adding she hoped students would choose her smaller, independent store over a large chain.

"Students are very sophisticated," she said.

Microbiology and French senior Jennifer Belcolore said she does not like what she sees as a big business trend on University Boulevard near campus.

"We don't need that many cafes," she said while visiting friends on the Paraiso patio. "We need more mom and pop stores."

She added, "It's sad that you can't see the mountains from here anymore."