No more coffee for long-standing Fordham Plaza news stand

No more Coffee

Those are the words, written in black marker, which signalled the end of a news stand’s near fifteen year association with serving cheap and cheery cups of joe.

The stand in question is located in One Fordham Plaza, and Starbucks has just moved in around the corner.

“It’s an absolute shame,” said a Plaza worker. “They,” he continued, “are putting small businesses out of business.”

But, who is the ‘they’ that the employee was referring to?

According to reports, the manager of the tower allegedly told the proprietor of the news stall to stop selling coffee and teas as Starbucks was entering the premises – effectively giving the monoliths a monopoly.

In fairness to Starbucks this does not seem like a calculated or planned move on their behalf, at least not on the surface. Even if it were the case, it would be the exception rather than the norm. 

A spokesperson for the company told the local New York press that they do not “dictate what other stands or locations sell.

“In fact, Starbucks welcomes competition and has helped to create a market where independent stores and small chains can continue to grow,” they said.

But that hasn’t been enough to stop the rumblings of a behind closed doors deal: A petition, created with the aim of reversing the decision, goes so far to allege that the tower block’s management and Starbucks are in cahoots. In its description it says that “some sort of deal was struck…preventing the news stand from continuing to sell coffee, and tea,” and that one person has already been made redundant due to the decision.

Unsurprisingly the e-petition has gathered traction, attracting over 500 signatories with the majority of people supporting free, unrestricted competition.

“Unfair competition is rotten,” one person lamented.

The New York press report that one employee of the small kiosk, who asked to remain nameless, acknowledged that Plaza management were behind the decision, but couldn’t comment on if Starbucks were party or not.