First freestanding Starbucks in Boyle Heights opens, with mixed reviews

Some are pleased and others concerned with the first free-standing Starbucks coffee franchise in Boyle Heights. With the recent commercial additions of Walgreens, in 2012, and the plan for retail and condo renovations to the Sears Tower in the near future, some in Boyle Heights fear that the new building represents gentrification and a threat to small businesses. Social and political heralds are matched by those who say the business provides jobs and a new space to enjoy a morning cup. “The majority of our customers are connected to Boyle Heights through school, work, or family,” said Mora. “There will always be new businesses, but people will connect with and support what [they] consider their home.” Read the article, on in a series on gentrification, on Boyle Heights Beat.