I inspected a property in Oak Park yesterday, and while on the road I snapped a shot of the now vacant “Starbucks building” on Broadway. It’s been just about two weeks since the Oak Park Starbucks shut its doors. I know it can be popular in some circles to hate Starbucks, but this one felt a little different because it was connected to an exciting commercial renovation project for the community. Now it’s just another vacant building, one among many, in the current real estate market.

Businesses starting and failing is a part of the cycle of capitalism, and that’s just life, but let’s hope for great things for the next company that moves in on this corner. If you are familiar with this project, how does the image above strike you? Does it make you sad? Or are you full of optimism for what is next? Feel free to comment above.

www.SacramentoAppraialBlog.com Photos from the Field: Oak Park Vacant “Starbucks Building”

On this coming Sunday, the Starbucks in the “Oak Park” area of Sacramento will be closing. Between appraisal inspections today, I paid my respects by buying a cup of coffee for the last time at the location. Oak Park native, Kevin Johnson (former NBA All Star / current Mayor of Sacramento), was instrumental in bringing Starbucks to the area and helping to reinvent the corner on which it is located. 

I always liked the art on the inside of this store because it had somewhat of a typical Starbucks feel to it, but it also incorporated local Oak Park flavor by using KJ imagery. I took the following shots with my mobile phone.

According to a Sacramento Bee article, the word is that Old Soul Company is potentially interested in this corner spot, so hopefully they or another coffee house will soon establish roots. Whatever happens, the hope is that the new business willl be a step forward in redevelopment for Oak Park. 

Further Background & Articles:

• Sacramento Biz Journals: “Ambitious Oak Park Project Taking Off” (2001)
• Sacramento Biz Journals: “Time-worn Oak Park on the Rebound” (2006)
• Sacramento Bee: “Old Soul Could Replace Departing Starbucks in Oak Park” (2009)
• Sacramento Bee: “Starbucks to Shut 7 Sacramento-area Shops” (2009)
• Oak Park Neighborhood Association
• SHRA: Oak Park Redevelopment Area
• St. HOPE

www.SacramentoAppraisalBlog.com R.I.P. Oak Park Starbucks