I think it's a bit presumptive to write off the appeal of locally-owned businesses. Granted, it's easy and attractive to do since some people are so ridiculous about it. (Here in Austin, a neighborhood sued to try to stop a Walmart from coming in. They lost, but the process got delayed long enough for the recession to hit, so now an uglier, less-pedestrian friendly Walmart will be built than what was proposed. Progress.)
There is something palpably different when you're buying something directly from the owner of a business, or at least when the owner isn't too far removed for you to interact with them every once in a while. There's a Mediterranean restaurant I frequent that's run by three generations of a family, and something just feels different when I go there beyond just the quality of the food, which is amazing on its own. Perhaps they're just good at being friendly. I think it's more of a side-effect of properly aligned incentives. The better of an experience they create, the more money they make, and with a stronger, more positive correlation than a waiter has with tips.
Humans are social creatures. There might appear to be an equivalence between transactions with Starbucks and your local independent coffee shop, but there's more going on than just a transaction. It's an experience.
(Then there's the whole argument for keeping money circulating within your local economy, but that seems like it'd have the same problems as protectionism if it became a popular movement.)
I think that's it. Here in Edinburgh, there are many independent coffee shops, but few manage to create the friendly warm atmosphere of Starbucks. Out of my favorite 4 coffeeshops, 2 are Starbucks.
There is something palpably different when you're buying something directly from the owner of a business, or at least when the owner isn't too far removed for you to interact with them every once in a while. There's a Mediterranean restaurant I frequent that's run by three generations of a family, and something just feels different when I go there beyond just the quality of the food, which is amazing on its own. Perhaps they're just good at being friendly. I think it's more of a side-effect of properly aligned incentives. The better of an experience they create, the more money they make, and with a stronger, more positive correlation than a waiter has with tips.
Humans are social creatures. There might appear to be an equivalence between transactions with Starbucks and your local independent coffee shop, but there's more going on than just a transaction. It's an experience.
(Then there's the whole argument for keeping money circulating within your local economy, but that seems like it'd have the same problems as protectionism if it became a popular movement.)