Yesterday, Kelsey Moline was an assistant manager and seven-year employee of Coffee People.
Today, she and several of her coworkers are unemployed.
The coffee shop in the Broadway Housing Building, which was at one time a local chain, closed its doors Monday night for the last time, and many of the Coffee People employees say they are unsure of what they will do next.
Starbucks announced in September that it had purchased 40 Coffee People stores, including 15 in the Portland metro area, for $13.5 million. While employees were given the option to become Starbucks employees without having to reapply, many have opted to move on.
Moline estimated that of the store’s 15 employees, four have chosen to stay on as Starbucks employees. The rest, including herself, will seek employment elsewhere. “None of us have really gotten jobs yet,” she said.
Moline said she is leaving because “it would be embarrassing to tell my family and friends where I work. It’s Starbucks. It’s so corporate.”
Melissa-who asked that her full name not be used-said she does not want to move to a different store. Part of the deal of becoming Starbucks employees, Moline said, was that employees could not work at the same location.
“We don’t like what’s happening, but that’s the corporate world,” Melissa said.
For many, the appeal of Coffee People was its local feel. Coffee People’s first shop opened on Northwest 23rd in Portland in 1983, and was bought by California-based Diedrich Coffee, Inc. in 1999.
“I like to buy local,” said Coffee People customer Miranda Shapiro. “I’ll probably try to go to the Broadway Caf퀌� more.”
“I go to Coffee People for the quality of the coffee,” said customer Jenica Baker. “I’m going back to Seattle’s Best.”
Starbucks also bought out the Seattle’s Best Coffee brand in 2003.
Coffee People will keep selling coffee beans online and will remain in control of the seven kiosks at the Portland International Airport.