GLYNN: Starbucks closes before Falls St. opens up

<table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Don Glynn</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:don.glynn@niagara-gazette.com">don.glynn@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>

June 27, 2009 11:40 pm

— The decision to close Starbucks at the Crowne Plaza Hotel should come as no real surprise to anyone who witnessed the volume of daily business during the past three years.
In sharp contrast to how one employee assessed the situation, most observers would probably describe the flow of trade there as a dry creek rather than a steady stream.
There were a number of days when the staff outnumbered the customers.
In all fairness, the coffee was as strong and as flavorful as you would have found in any of the nearly 600 company-owned stores that closed this year because of the hard-pressed economy. It was obviously geared to the tourist market as evidenced by a glance at the generally pricey menu.
The timing of this shutdown though is questionable.
Starbucks is pulling out just as Falls Street should experience a kind of rebirth with the demolished Wintergarden opening up the entire street between the Seneca Niagara Casino plaza and the entrance to Niagara Falls State Park.
Countless visitors — especially those exiting the park — will now see for themselves that there is something else downtown besides a high-rise roadblock and a vacant shopping mall that resembles an abandoned warehouse.
In a word, there is bound to be a better flow of pedestrians between Prospect Park and Third Street.
But, for some reason, Starbucks obviously didn’t want to wait even for another tourist season.
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FOLLOW THE SIGNS: If you’re headed to the French & Indian War events — the 250th anniversary of the battle — at Old Fort Niagara next weekend, you should note the detour starting with the Robert Moses Parkway exit at Youngstown-Lockport Road (Route 93). Turn right at the exit, proceed to East Avenue and Blairville Road for another right to the village and Veterans Park (across from the fire hall) for free parking. A shuttle service to the fort will be available every few minutes. Due to the expected influx, parking in Fort Niagara State Park will be strictly limited.
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REAL HOT SPOT: If you’re looking for a quiet place to read and relax these days, you’ll certainly want to avoid the Earl W. Brydges Library, especially the Local History Department.
On Friday, the third-floor room that houses a treasure of area history and documents, was 92 degrees.
“We don’t have air conditioning in this building and it could be that way for the entire summer,” Library Director Betty Babanoury said.
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THE 19TH HOLE: If the operators of Mulligan’s (the former Greens Restaurant at the Hyde Park Golf Course) want to build up their business, they’ll need to have more than one waitress on duty for the lunch crowd. Last week — it wasn’t the first time — one young waitress was rushing to look after nearly 30 customers including a busy bar.
Despite all that pressure, customers noted she kept her cool and pleasant manner. By the way, the food is good, too.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “ I’m going to bring high energy ... all the time. I’m going to bring personality and be somebody that comes in all the time and works hard. I can defend. I can put the ball in the basket. I can make my teammates better” — Jonny Flynn, ex-Niagara Falls High School and Syracuse University basketball star and No. 6 pick of Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA draft.
Contact reporter Don Glynn at 282-2311, ext. 2246.