BROOKHAVEN — Support local, that was the general reaction of people who responded to our story about Starbucks coming to Brookhaven. It is of note there were only a few email responses in comparison to the hundreds of Facebook comments and can not fully reflect what the community feels. 

Starbucks is building new construction in the location of the former Speedee Cash building which was torn down last week. It would be the fifth coffee shop in addition to local shops WildFox Coffee, Vintage Style and The Rabbit Hole. PJ’s Coffee is a regional chain coffee shop started in New Orleans, but locally owned and operated by John and Angie Lambert of Brookhaven. 

Amanda emailed The Daily Leader and wrote “I think they are wasting their time.  We have PJs and two amazing coffee shops that are local. I’d rather support local than the nasty Starbucks any day.” 

Scarlet Russell echoed Amanda’s opinion in an email to The Daily Leader. “Although everyone loves Starbucks, there are already 3 small business owners with coffee shops along with PJs coffee. To bring a Starbucks to Brookhaven is absolutely ridiculous. You are throwing small business owners under the bus. You will leave them to close their stores and lose their income. I wish the people who are making these decisions for our town realize that you are killing the people who live in it by bringing these large corporations into it. I know me along with many others will continue to support our small businesses over Starbucks. Think about your people and not your own pockets.” 

The local government is not responsible for who opens businesses or who moves a business from Brookhaven to somewhere else. Businesses can be started by anyone in the USA so long as they have the appropriate licenses.

Marcia Butler had other questions about the rise of chicken or coffee establishments in Brookhaven in an email she wrote to The Daily Leader. 

“Why is it coffee, burger or chicken. We need a Captain D’s or a BBQ or something new,” Butler wrote. “Our town isn’t getting any better.” 

The Daily Leader additionally asked what people’s first orders would be at the new Starbucks. Genetra Benjamin said her first order will most definitely be a Caramel Ribbon Crunch. 

Share what you think by emailing hunter.cloud@dailyleader.com.