Property owner to bring coffee chain to Oberlin

Students who complain of downtown Oberlin's lack of entertainment probably would not find the addition of another coffee shop to be a viable solution to boredom. Not even a coffee shop that provides free internet access for its customers.

And yet a new coffee shop may indeed be opening its doors in downtown Oberlin soon. Kevin Muldoon, co-owner of the building at 51 to 53 South Main St., came up with the idea about nine months ago.

Muldoon plans to put the coffee shop in the southeast corner of his building, which currently houses such tenants as Tappan Square Cleaners and Intermessage Communication.

The coffee shop, which would have 20 to 24 tables, would face the Oberlin Public Library parking lot. Muldoon hopes to completely redo the front of the store. The entrance would require the use of a seven-foot wide strip of library land for handicap access.

Muldoon said one reason for adding a coffee shop is the crowd at the library.

"A lot of them are elderly people and young kids. I think we have a service we can supply to them," Muldoon said. He also said the new shop would create about 14 jobs.

Muldoon was approached by representatives of both Starbucks, Inc. and Arabica Licensing Services, Inc., whose corporations are vying for the location. Arabica is a Cleveland-based franchise with several shops in the Cleveland area.

In keeping with Oberlin's traditionally skeptical outlook on chain restaurants, student response to the proposal was strongly negative.

"I think it is a bad idea to bring a Starbucks to Oberlin because everything else is local businesses and that adds to its charm," said sophomore Natasha Rothchild.

First-year Hondo Weiss-Richmonds said, "I would hate it. It would destroy smaller shops like the Feve and Java Zone like it has in a lot of other places."

"More coffee!" said President Nancy Dye. "Our cappucino machine to student ratio is already pretty low."

Even those students who like Starbucks weren't enthusiastic about a potential Oberlin debut. "I love Starbucks. It would be great, but unnecessary," first-year Lavell Blackwell said.

Although students expressed concern about a larger chain forcing the local shops out of business, local competitors are not as worried.

Two Trees Cafe Manager Eric Stewart was quick to point out that any new shop would serve different clientele. "I wouldn't call us a coffee shop," he said. "We are more natural foods oriented. We also encourage the purchase of local goods."

Feve co-owner Matt Adelman said, "I think it would be foolish to open another coffee shop. We don't have a large enough community to sustain a Starbucks or Arabica." Adelman was confident that students would continue to visit the Feve. "Oberlin students are intelligent enough to seek out a place which has character," he said.

Adelman described Starbucks as "the McDonalds of coffee."

Starbucks' web page boasts, "We're opening a store on average every business day. Starbucks intends to have two thousand locations in North America by the year 2000."

Muldoon said it's not his intention to hurt other businesses. "We wouldn't bake anything, just bring in stuff. We don't want to take business away from other places," he said.

Muldoon hopes his new shop will include free internet terminals.

The final decision of whether to incorporate a new coffee shop has been delayed pending the decision of the Oberlin Public Library board regarding easement of the strip of land bordering Muldoon's property. The library board met Tuesday to discuss the proposal but no decisions were made.

"There is no legal reason they can't grant easement," Muldoon said. He has not decided which chain would occupy the new shop. "We're leaning toward Arabica, only because they are a local company and have flexibility," Muldoon said.

Starbucks, anyone? The proposed new coffee house would set up residence in the southeast corner of this building on South Main Street near the Oberlin Public Library. (photo by Michal Lando)