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We recently had a brief exchange with a Peet’s Coffee barista during which she said something about Peet’s opening a shop in upper Queen Anne. In September. We freaked. Given the ridiculously short time-frame, though, we filed the idea away under Wishful Thinking.
But this weekend we came across a related tidbit while perusing Chowhound. Someone posted this sentence on July 16: “I just heard that Ravenna Gardens is about to be replaced by… Peet’s Coffee!”
And we found a Craigslist posting from July 12, soliciting applications for a Seattle-area store manager position. Hmm.
In search of solid proof, we went to Peet’s yesterday and asked an employee if there was truth to the rumor. She said they didn’t know, that nothing was confirmed yet. Yet? We’re looking for a place there, she added. If we do open in Queen Anne, it’ll be before the end of the year. Holy crap. Could it be? Peet’s Coffee in our neighborhood within six months?
A couple hours later, our selfish reverie—a short walk to amazing coffee! Peet’s before work, every day!—succumbed to a tidal wave of philanthropic joy. This surely inevitable event, which would enrich people’s lives, would take place thanks to us. We wrote an open letter to Peet’s back in December 2006, after all, inviting them to our neighborhood with open arms. As our heart surged with charitable tidings, we imagined this conference-room scene, which is quite likely what took place at Peet’s HQ when my letter reached “the appropriate department” (as the kind customer service person told me it would):
Young Exec: We should take this gentleman’s letter seriously. He’s obviously passionate about Peet’s.Old Board Member:
The guy’s a wacko. We’ll open stores where it’s financially advantageous. That neighborhood’s already a saturated market.Young Exec:
So you’ve looked into it?Old Board Member:
Well… Yes. But the guy’s obviously obsessed. He’s a wacko.Young Exec:
Well, I’ve researched his neighborhood, and I see opportunity there for Peet’s.Old Board Member:
Bah! We need to focus more on our core California markets.Wise Board Chairman:
Actually, I agree that this young man’s neighborhood bears promise—not just for our bottom line, but for discerning coffee drinkers in the area. This is an opportunity to enlighten more souls with our roasts.Young Exec:
I’m glad to hear that, sir. According to my calculations, we could open a Peet’s store in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood by late spring 2008.Wise Board Chairman:
You know what? Let’s do this [regular] guy and his [rich, BMW-driving] neighbors right. Let’s open before 2008. And then put his letter on the wall for all employees and customers to see. It’s passion like his that makes great things happen in this world. We should all learn from what he’s done.Stunned silence is followed by enthusiastic applause. Young Exec raises letter over her head like a trophy.
So, fellow Queen Anne residents, when Peet’s (undoubtedly, we’re sure) opens its doors in our neighborhood, you can thank Seattlest. Until then, we invite rumor-mongering and wild speculation on the topic. And digs from Ladro and Fiore fans, of course.
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Why the obsession with Peet's? Is the coffee that good? Do we really need another multi-metro coffee chain?
Very good- now see if you can get a Chipotle in West Seattle...
Let's see, at that intersection, there's already a Starbucks on one corner, a Tully's directly across the street from it and a Cafe Ladro three doors to the north. Never mind El Diablo two blocks to the south and the Starbucks in the Safeway.
Yep, there's a definite dearth of coffee at the top of Queen Anne.
The hell!?!?
@1: It is that good. And the people are always very cool (and they can talk coffee if you're into that). So, in this case, yes, we do need another.
@2: Ironically, we want to move to West Seattle someday, so we'll look into that.
@3: I know. I'm not convinced that'll be the spot, or that it's the best spot. (We like the corner across from the 5 Spot, where there's currently a salon/spa thing.) But if so, we could rename it Java Junction or something catchy like that.
I find it odd that a Seattle blog is rooting for a California coffee chain (and a fairly large one, at that) to open another cookie-cutter box store in a quintessential Seattle neighborhood.
I dunno. I guess if you like your Starbucks in shades of brown, Peet's is your place.
Starbucks and Peet's have an interesting history. Peet's was the model that the original Starbucks founders used, and one of them bought into Peet's once Howard took Starbucks under his wing.
peets is awful.
1. yes, Starbucks and Peet's are linked-- by Schultz himself. Howard Schultz worked for Peet's for many years and perfected his model before buying out the original Starbucks owners and transferring the model.
2. Please do not name a coffee store "Java Junction." It's cheesy and horrible.
3. Did you ever notice that Starbucks is Skcubrats spelled backwards?
4. I might like Peet's a lot better if the stores had swings and slides.
I'm always amazed at how provincial Seattleites can be. You'd think coffee was invented in Seattle. Actually Alfred Peet (the founder of Peet's) is considered the "grandfather" of specialty coffee in the United States. He was roasting his own beans in Berkeley in 1966. That's 5 years before Starbucks started in Seattle!! And yes, Starbucks is modeled after Peet's. In fact, Alfred Peet mentored the founders of Starbucks and helped them get a start in the business. Peet's is a chain yes, but with 150 or so stores (most in the Bay Area), it is miniscule next to 10,000 + stores Starbucks. The quality and integrity that has been there since day one is still a part of the company. As someone who has lived in both Seattle and San Francisco (I love them both), all I can say is, relax Seattle, a lot of good things have come out of California. The Bay Area in particular has given America a whole new way to look at food, drink, and yes, with the advent of Peet's, even coffee (and tea).
oh god not another coffee shop on qa!!!
are all of you gushing caffeine enthusiasts out of your jittery minds?
can't we all make due with starbucks, tully's, ladro, el diablo, cafe fiore — not to mention the three or four other food + coffee shops (safeway starbucks, appasionato, et cetera) that have taken root all over the hill, like weeds choking our neighborhood's vitality. it's insane.
and why the cheers about losing ravenna gardens? now that was a lovely shop, providing the neighborhood with character and diversity....
Its true, I work at Peets and Ravenna Gardens will be replaced by Peets. Employees are not allowed to confirm in case something falls through, but it will be there. There is a manager already hired!
Thanks, #11. I saw visual proof this morning: Signs all over Ravenna Gardens reading "GOODBYE SALE Everything 20% Off." Sweet.
Story
I won't even comment on the idiocy of praising the advent of even more coffee at that intersection. It's Queen Anne residents like you that actually deserve to live in a neighborhood increasingly plagued by corporate, cookie cutter businesses.
Everyone needs to relax on this. If no one buys the coffee, the place goes away. Simple capitalism. If the neighborhood can support another coffee shop, then I guess it was meant to be. As a long time QA resident, I'm amazed that the Tully's, Starbucks x2, Ladro and El Diablo (heck, expand it to include the Tea Pot) can keep enough business to stay open, but the stores are always busy when I walk by.
If Ravenna Gardens was such a nice store, why was it constantly undershopped. Businesses don't close successful locations, and let's be honest, no one bought anything from that store. It was overpriced and it's selection of actual greenery was so-so.
What are people hoping will go in on top of Queen Anne? Another pretentious restaurant with fair to middling food like Portage or Opal (argue all you want, but the food is so-so and the prices are ridiculous). Another place to buy pizza to accent Olympia Pizza House, Elliott Bay, Vincenzo's, Sorrento, Pizza Hut, Pasta Bella and Tribunali (seriously, who eats that much pizza?) (also, much love to the now-departed King of Calzone, Pete's)? Or possibly another over-priced childrens' store (yeah, let's get some more $40 dollar shoes for babies who can't even walk). Definitely one more thai/sushi/pan-asian restaurant.
Everytime something that doesn't fit that criteria comes along, it goes out of business. Does anyone remember the Cucina Presto? Or the World Wrapps? Or the gelato place? Or Gordito's (man I miss that place)? Or Hoyt's? Or Firefly? Or Fira? Vaguely. Possibly. They all went out of business, mostly for lack of customers. Queen Annians support the stuff they want on the hill. They want pretentious. They want expensive. They want 11 places to buy coffee. They want Starbucks for convenience and consistency, Tully's for variety, Ladro so they can feel anti-establishment and El Diablo for truly good coffee. And apparently, they want coffee want coffee while shopping at Safeway.
I say, "Bring on Peet's." Heck, let's get us a Cafe Victrola, a Chai House, a Seattle's Best, a Coffee Messiah and a Juan Valdez. And then let's see if anyone on top of this stupid hill can sleep when their blood is 11% caffeine.
Kudos--and Gorditos nachos--to you, #15. Add condo conversions and rising apartment rent to the mix and the pretentious shall soon (re)inherit the hill.