Starbucks Closings in Austin

July 19, 2008 | 1 Comment

austin real estate and starbucks closings

Starbucks’ National Closings

The recent news of Starbucks’ announcement of shutting the lights off in 600 of their stores across America has spooked many and buzz about it has echoed across the Internet. For years, many real estate speculators have looked to the deep pockets of companies like Starbucks’ research divisions for selecting store sites as indications of viable economic growth. Economists have watched their coffee prices as indicators of local economic success much commodities like gas, metals and others. With these store closings, people even locally are saying that it’s the armageddon. False.

Starbucks’ Texas Closings

According to Starbucks, Texas will be experiencing 57 store closures, two of which are in Austin (1007 South Congress and 5000 W. Slaughter) both nearby newly constructed Starbucks locations. To put that in perspective in the national scope, Texas only accounts for 9.5% of all closings and Austin only accounts for 0.3% of the closings nationally.

The Impact on Austin

How does this impact Austin? It doesn’t… that’s a tiny little blip; businesses open and close here every day, so for those measuring Austin’s economy based on coffee houses and prices, we’re still lookin’ pretty good (not to mention that within a mile of my personal home, two new Starbucks have had their grand openings in the past months).

original image courtesy of ak37

Posted by Lani, Asset Director | Filed Under Austin Events, Austin News, Austin Real Estate Blog, Human Interest 

Austinite in Need of Help

July 1, 2008 | 1 Comment

Originally posted on RERevealed.com:

I just got off the phone with a friend who needs your help. Like right now. Karyn Ford is in her early twenties here in Austin and she and her friend Bridget Novak are single moms living in 2 bedroom homes. Recently, they have taken voluntary placement from Child Protective Services and because it’s voluntary, they do not receive any financial assistance. Between them, their families have grown to include one handicapped 14 year old, a 5 year old, 8 year old and an infant. Their needs are great, ranging from gas, food, clothes, entertainment to school supplies. Bridget’s car overheats on the way to the store up the street and isn’t big enough to fit the children!

Their focus is to provide a safe and healthy environment for the kiddos but they are humbly asking for help.

Ways we ask you to help:
(1) HEB Gift Cards for gas and groceries
(2) Target Gift Cards for clothes
(3) Simon Gift Cards for everything
(don’t get discouraged if any of these make you log in… remember, you’re helping a friend)

If you’d like to ship these or simply mail a check, please please do so:
Karyn Ford
417 Fantail Loop Unit A
Lakeway, TX 78734

We all read about “help” needed every day, but today’s hits much closer to home- my friend Karyn needs your help now! Karyn was one of the first to message me when my brother (who she was friends with) died last fall and the most vivid thing I remember about her is her smile and her selflessness which clearly have not changed over time. If you have $0 to share, please pause to pray for the well being of everyone involved.

We sincerely thank you!

Posted by Lani, Asset Director | Filed Under Austin People, Austin Real Estate Blog