A group of small coffee vendors are giving away free coffee in Dublin today in opposition to the news that Starbucks is opening another shop on Crampton Quay. There are already 50 Starbucks outlets in Dublin.
According to Lovin Dublin, the cafes & coffee shops participating in the initiative are:
- The Clockwork Door
- Coco Brew
- Il Fornaio Enoteca
- Foam cafe
- Celtic Cookie Company
- Coffee Cartel coffee cart
- Gallaher and Co
- The Dwarf Jar
- The Joy of Cha
- The Stage Door
- The Tram Cafe
- Il Fornaio Cafe
- The Bus Stop Cafe
- Metro Cafe
- BG cafe & Deli
- Irish Film Institute
- Tamp and Stitch
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Ciaran Hogan, who runs The Clockwork Door on Wellington Quay, organised the free coffee initiative after learning that another Starbucks was opening in Dublin. Speaking to irishtimes.com, Horgan reiterated the importance of supporting local businesses:
Our goal with the event is just to remind people come to the local places, support the local places. That’s all we’re really trying to do.
I don’t like when everything is just bland and there’s no flavour and there’s no difference. When you go to a Starbucks in Dublin, it’s the same as going to one in London or wherever else. Imagine having only chains in Dublin, there would be nothing unique.
Dublin city councillor Mannix Flynn said “smaller coffee shops were at a disadvantage because of the kind of empire these outlets are”.
“They’re already finding it very difficult to cope with current conditions. The independent coffee shops are basically being run out of business, it’s not fair.”
A spokesman for Starbucks said it would be creating 15 positions in its Crampton Quay outlet and that it would have more than 800 baristas in Ireland.
“We are proud to be part of Dublin’s vibrant coffee culture. Whilst we are not the biggest coffee brand in Dublin, it’s great to see many independents and brands raising the bar with innovation and coffee quality, giving Irish customers even more choice,” he said.
