Seattle coffee house leaving Oxford by month’s end

Coffee lovers better hurry and stop in to Starbucks Coffee to get their last frappachino before the store closes it’s doors for good in a few weeks.
In a sign posted in the lobby, Starbucks is informing their customers that the store will close on Sunday, Aug. 22.
The Seattle, Washington based company has been a mainstay in downtown Oxford for the past 11 years in the Oxford Professional Center, located at 51 S. Washington.
Oxford resident Dan Clark, 60, said that he frequented the location ‘quite a bit.?
‘I’m surprised that the corporation would close this facility. I travel a lot through the country on business and this is, far and away, the nicest cafe Starbucks I have ever been in,? he said.
Before the company closes their doors on Aug. 22, they will be holding a Customer Appreciation Day from 1-5 p.m.
When asked for a comment, a Starbucks manager indicated they were legally not allowed to comment on the store closing or on the customer appreciation day.
An e-mail from a Starbucks company spokesperson indicated the closing was due in part to several criteria used in identifying stores for closure.
‘As part of Starbucks standard course of business, we continually review and evaluate our entire portfolio of stores and identify both under performing assets as well as potential opportunities to meet customer demand. We use several criteria to identify stores for closure as a standard course of business. The closure of the store you referenced is aligned with this process,? wrote the spokesperson in an e-mail to the Leader.
The spokesperson indicated that the closest Starbucks was in Lake Orion.
‘I guess it is a corporate decision based on numbers . . . it’s disappointing because I know that it is a hot spot for a lot of people,? Clark said. ‘You can come in, relax and I’ve made a lot of friends.?
The Leader reported in the May 12, 2010 issue that the 2,257 square foot area that Starbucks currently occupies is available for lease, according to the Managhan & Company website.
The website still indicates that the space is for lease. Frank Monaghan said that ‘there is nothing to note at this time,? when asked on the status of the available space.
For information about leasing opportunities concerning the Starbucks space, visit www.monaghanandcompany.com