Waiting for my coffee had never been so incredibly dull! I stood in Starbucks and the atmosphere was muggy and the clientele was typical of a North Shore community in Milwaukee County. It was interesting yet slightly creepy how the children of polished parents systematically mirrored their elders in miniature form. Even more strange was the seemingly out-of-place rumble of Harley Davidson motorcycles outside the coffee house. What an odd and misplaced sound this was outside the walls that house the usual buzz of mocha machines galore. Milwaukee is so ridiculously odd in this sense! The privileged upper class wife walks into Starbucks with her Prada sunglasses and Coach bag. She is typically stoic and orders something I could never make let alone repeat while her childrens' eyes grow wide looking at the cakes and muffins for sale. Directly behind her in line are two Harley Davidson riders clad in leather showcasing rough sneers across their faces. The theme, however, is clear: no matter who you are you seem to need to satisfy your hunger for an overpriced coffee. What do I have to say to this? Hogwash! If you are going to spend your money carelessly, why not do it in style?
I am far more entertained by small and independently owned coffee houses than by large corporate chain coffee houses. I am not entirely anti-corporation and I will willingly admit to my passionate love affair with Starbucks' green tea lemonade. But in general if I am going to be overcharged for coffee then I would rather give my money to the upcoming successful independent business owner. Call me a liberal even though I think Obama is a serious git who only knows how to give well-rehearsed speeches. Call me a dreamer and an anti-establishment supporter even though I have happily worked for two large corporations in my lifetime. If you are going to call me anything, friend, please just call me entertained. For I have discovered the wonders of a world with a lot less Starbucks involved.
Starbucks is Starbucks. You get what you expect; one million choices, decent service, clean-cut employees and mediocre coffee cake. The prices mock your pocket book as the rich woman standing beside you scoffs as she holds out her fifty dollar bill while you scramble for pennies. You grin and wonder if you should have paid more attention in business class and then you tuck in and sip your java in cushy chairs as you stare out the window at the nearby mini-mall and you try to guess which generic poster company supplied Starbucks' décor. This is not an entirely disappointing experience. I simply prefer more entertainment.
Let us compare our typical Starbucks visit with a visit to Sven’s European Café in Bay View, shall we? First of all, I was immediately impressed with Sven’s when I noticed that the menu offered vegan options. I am not vegan by any means, but bless the vegans! They need options as well! From here the entertainment seriously stepped up a few more notches. Decent service gave way to decent food and tasty coffee. Ah, but the ambiance is what I truly paid for. Bohemian in nature, this little café had serious style! From the starving artist girl who sat on a computer set up for free internet service to the 50-year-old hippie that could not get enough of The Onion and his Chai Tea, this café had it all. Stare out the window and you see businessmen getting on the bus as skateboarders make their way down to Sky High Skateboard Shop. The walls are full of vivid paintings and the buzz of artistic flair seeps through the air. Truly, this is a fantastic place to visit!! Did I mention that the prices were more reasonable than Starbucks' prices?
Am I telling you not to shop at Starbucks to fulfill your need for your favorite double crazy shot of mocha yummy fun with your side of mediocre crumb cake? No! I am just encouraging you to branch out and try something new. Give someone else a chance. Starbucks will probably never go out of business but Sven’s might if you do not get smart and try thinking outside the box for once. Do it for me. Do it for the small business owner that truly counts on you. Do it for the integrity of good coffee cake. Most importantly--do it for the brilliant entertainment of the entire experience. I guarantee you will have a conversation with someone random that you will never forget and just maybe that someone will be me!
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