Like we need another coffee shop. This certainly won't help to expand "Pleasanton's great shopping experience". Come on, can't the council members be a little more creative?

Sounds like a nice addition to downtown. I'm guessing there will be fewer folks relieving themselves in front of the place like used to go on with the pool hall, or goes on behind Redcoats. It will be interested to see what the parking situation will be like. (Hello!!! City Council, downtown still needs a parking structure. Funny how that hasn't even come up in the election debate. Downtown Association - are you still snoozing?)

Finally a decent coffee in town! 😃

The tapas restaurant next door sounds even better ! O'lay

Sounds like that corner is shaping up nicely!

Wow, I won't miss the smoking lunes hanging out there... But Four-Bucks coffee, really ?

Who got pay-ola'd on this... Mayor Jerry ?

Looks like P-Town has gone the way of... 'ANY-TOWN' USA with strip malls with all the faceless brands... Can't wait for more franchises coming in... oh joy, let's get real magnets like Cigarette City, or another "Happy ending massage Parlor", staffed with exploited labor.

This new building and its tenants will be a 10x improvement vs how that land was being used before.

Is this new Starbucks an independently owned franchise? Chains are not allowed in downtown. Plus I love how the developer was allowed to get around parking restrictions. This whole development smells fishy, whose palms were getting greased?

I wonder if chain stores are allowed. True Value Hardware is on Main Sreet and Coldstone was there for a very long time.
I would rather have some decent chain stores than some of the shops we have now.

It would be great if they stayed open to at least 11:00pm. Pleasanton rolls up its sidewalks at 9, but it would be nice to have a place for a late night snack.

Too bad.

Chains are boring, no personality.

there is a Tully's downtown already. Isn't it a chain.

One chain is one too many!

Cookie cutter Italian restaurants. Cookie cutter banks. Cookie cutter Coffee Shops. Cookie cutter Beauty parlors. Pleasanton the cookie cutter destination. Might as well paint the entire town beige.

I think will be a great addition. Often you might want to meet for a drink later at night but feel funny taking up a table at a more expensive restaurant when you don't want to order food. Very excited about the tapas restaurant.

I think the City Of Pleasanton missed a great opportunity many years ago when they turned down the idea of bringing the Niles Canyon Railway into downtown Pleasanton. Look at the business that could have benefited from the holiday train trips. Instead, the train goes between Sunol & Niles. There really isn't much in Sunol, but Niles has benefited a lot from the train. Surely we could have found an appropriate departure place with parking, but we take advantage of it.

What a disappointment. Why not give someone local a chance at having an interesting business on Main St? Those spaces were sold before the council even approved the rebuild.
Truly, a $tarbuck$ on every corner. So much for a unique downtown...

So glad to hear neither restaurant will be Itlain food!

@Don, I thought everyone had forgotten about that. Right you are. That would have been a most unique addition to the community. It was approved, if you recall. But, then, magically it went away amid political ineptitude. Livermore seems to have put together an increasingly robust downtown, while, as noted above, Pleasanton continues on it's quest for a lighter shade of beige.

Some are going to comment negatively because they don't know how else to respond. It's their response to life in general. Change doesn't have to be scary or bad.

Even during special events on Main, I have NEVER had trouble parking in downtown in the 15 years we've lived here! Stop whining about parking!

Love the changes happening in downtown! A mix of bigger franchises with small business makes for an awesome shopping environment and makes downtown a destination, HELPING small business!

Plus I won't miss getting a mouth full of smoke blown into my face at all times of the day when walking past what used to be past times bar. Glad it's in the past!

Good job city council and the PDA, push forward! Love the changes!!!

Change is good. But if this is your idea of change you are delusional. There is no change in downtown Pleasanton. Just more of the same. All of the variety has been pushed out. Beige is beige is beige. Boring.

You are right about chains, as you said it, are palms being greased?

Vote new, vote Bowen

Wonderful News!

If we could only add a MacDonald's and a 7-Eleven on Main, this way I can have my dinner, aftermeal coffee, and a place to get a dessert afterwards.

Nice going PDA!

I surprised it took Pleasanton this long to get a Starbucks downtown! I like the concept so I'll give it a try! You got my vote P-town

Very very disappointed that a Starbucks of all things will be going in this spot. Most people seem to think that the Pastime was a horrible scary place with bikers and smokers. It actually was a really fun place to go in and play some pool either on a week night or a weekend. It was usually filled with average people, young and old, just wanting to have a reasonably priced beer and hang out and shoot some pool. I felt very comfortable going in there. It was an old fashioned bar with nice, friendly people. I have lived in Pleasanton for 27 years and have seen a lot of changes going on in the downtown area. It's sad when old, familiar businesses are shut out to put in yuppy coffee shops. I cannot afford to eat in most of the places downtown so typically will venture out to other surrounding cities. Also agree that Pleasanton should put in a parking garage like Livermore did. Never have to drive around looking for parking on busy nights.

Who goes downtown anymore!!?

Sounds like a great addition to downtown! A place where I can have a small bite to eat and a glass of wine without having to go out for a big dinner. And feel safe as a woman going out by myself!
Love it!

Hello!?! TULLYS IS A CHAIN - there are chain restaurants downtown (Strizzi's as I recall is a also a chain).

I happen to think Starbucks is a better chain than Tully's so...why not?

Our group of friends have been spending more and more time (and money) in Danville as they have unique restaurants and shops. I would doubt that people, other than residents of Pleasanton, choose our downtown as their destination since it closes early and the shops and restaurants here do not create the foot traffic necessary for a vibrant downtown. But maybe that is what the city council and PDA want?

Terrible news......... we don't need Starbucks. We have plenty of nice coffee shops. Won't get my business

Hey, doesn't anyone remember the Cold Stone Creamery on Main Street that was forced to close about a year or two ago? That was a national chain - no, correction: An international chain with over 1000 franchise shop locations everywhere from Brazil to China. And it was replaced by little Tara's Ice Cream, an excellent local ice cream store featuring high-quality, organic ingredients. But what did everyone here do when news came out that the super-gigantic national chain ice cream shop was to be replaced by Tara's? Was everyone excited and happy? No! You all started complaining! Everyone was saying how much they loved the big-national-chain ice cream shop and how they were all going to boycott Tara's. Remember that? Is there any logical consistency in the griping that goes on here?

On a positive note, it's nice to see that Tara's seems to be having good business. Also, I'm sure that everyone here will be in an uproar if Tara's is ever forced to close down and a new Cold Stone Creamery or Baskin-Robbins moves into its place.

Everyone is hanging out in Livermore anyway....Way more to do, see, explore...

Downtown is not exciting. Livermore has passed us up with events and stores.

Vote New people in so we can try to get our city on track again.

Bowen has my vote

A Starbucks. Great. All the charm of a Roseville strip mall. At least Pastime had some character.

Missed opportunity
I had high hopes for that corner
If I want wine after 5 I am certainly not going to Starbucks!
Beige and boring

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff as irrelevant to this thread.)

I work in downtown Pleasanton. I have to say that I am quite excited about Starbucks opening up on main street. It's by far better then what was there!

Jeb,
Predictable that you removed my post about the aggravation I experienced while trying to write a post on this thread. My comment was that your obnoxious banner ads prevent one from seeing what they are typing. Instead of fixing that obnoxious problem, you simply delete the post.

You all do realize this is a completely different interpretation of the usual, same old, same old Starbucks right? We actually get one of their very first concept stores and thus have the opportunity to either make it a success with their corporate masters or prove it to be just another failed folly by the geniuses in marketing and then get to re purpose the building into yet another Italian restaurant when it closes.

Personally the Tapas restaurant and beer garden at Serenity Stoneworks and the rumored new eatery at the old Quiznos is what I'm looking forward to next summer!

OK, so we're finally getting that Starbucks, it was inevitable I guess - I'm neutral to some degree. What concerns me more is that this will put some of the other independent coffee shops out of business or make it hard for them to make money (same thing)--people are lured into the Starbucks image, even if the coffee isn't that great, or never mind that they over-charge.

I walked along Main St yesterday and happened to notice that a new coffee shop is opening up (paper sign posted on window 'coffee shop + more' something like that) - I think it was on the same block as Comerica (where the balloon place used to be). Wow, I wonder if the owner of that new coffee shop knew that Starbucks was coming right across the street. Perhaps it won't impact their business since Starbucks's focus is 'evening'.

The decision to bring in more of the corporate 'branded' or franchises is going to move small businesses out. I know because I have a small business right here in Pleasanton. It is hard to compete with a corporate based franchise. I don't care if the franchises are owned by residents. If you're going to open up in a cozy little town like Pleasanton, don't relocate here just to say you live here and then open up your franchise. As a biz owner, and long time residents (15+ years), we invested heavily (our own hard earned money--no SBA loans) to build our business and we hire locally too and support local businesses as part of our business model. We don't get incentives from a corporation to open up a franchise in small town and get marketing support from them; we run a brick and mortar, and yes, we are online and market as well. For example, a franchise will under cut the small business to get the sale/customer. Yes, in the end it's all about the product or service and if the client is happy, they will go where they are happy. So, yes, they do come back after trying the 'branded' cheaper version.

What I would like to see is more support for small businesses - try to buy locally instead of ordering on Amazon or support a local artist who make their wares here, from hand, not from another country made with cheap and/or materials. At least see if you can locate the product by calling one of the small businesses. You will find that they might just have it. I just tried this. I needed raw cocoa powder - so I was gonna head over to Whole Foods (a chain store) or I was thinking I'd just order online, but I remembered Acacia Health store next to Comerica Bank on Main St. I called them from my mobile, and yes, they had it. So, I was already going to Main St. and stopped by to purchase it; either way, I would be willing to drive locally to get the product I need jus to support a small business. I try to do that with most items whenever possible.

So, next time, the opportunity presents itself, please consider buying locally from a small business (the big stores will do fine, trust me). Next time you're going to a restaurant, consider supporting a mom & pop version versus a chain (once in a while, it won't hurt). There are plenty of cafes that offer coffee to go too -- you don't need to eat there if all you want is coffee.

Next time I'm on Main St., I will visit that little independent coffee shop that I saw with the sign on the window, next to Comerica - just to support them. I will continue to purchase vitamins and health food items at Acacia, and stop by Meadowlark drive thru diary for milk or a cone of ice cream, and continue to eat at Strizzi (not a chain/franchise--I met the owner and he owns all the restaurants in the East Bay, including Rigatoni in Dublin), Fontina, Nonni, Forno Vecchio, and so on. I try hard not to eat at the big ones like PJ Chang or Cheesecake (although I like them) and opt instead for an independent.

Also, there are many options off Main St too like at the corner of Hopyard/Valley -- yes, a strip mall type, these are small businesses too -- and Valley/Santa Rita and during the day, how about helping out Sweet & Savory over in the Hacienda Crossroads, instead of the new franchise Specialty Cafe & Bakery (who by the way get a ton of business from the corporations in the area). Sweet & Savory have been around for I think over 20 years! Wow, that's a long time to stay in business (small)! Now, they are having to compete with the aforementioned franchise.

All I'm saying is YOU have a choice, YOU can make a difference, YOU can help the small businesses by patronizing their stores/restaurants, using their services (cleaners, shoe repair, etc).

Thank you for reading.

@FSB -- nice post. You addressed most of the things that the people of this town could do to actually support the local businesses. I would add just a couple. Don't come into the local store, check out the products, ask all about where they come from, and then go home and try to find them cheaper online. Tacky.

Don't expect small stores to have the same return policy as Nordstrom. They don't because they can't. You cannot wear your clothing (even swimsuits!) then take it back and expect a full refund. A year later. Gross.

One small bit of information about the coffee place next to Comerica. I have been in there and it is not a coffee shop as you might expect. They sell hundreds of different kinds of coffee, tea and cocoa in K-cup pods. Individually, by the box, any way that you want it. They have the largest selection of K-cup pods that I have ever seen. They even sell some of the world's most premium coffee in K-cups and by the bag. Where in Pleasanton can you buy 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain or 100% Kona coffee? Only in that store. Which, BTW, I have no financial interest in. I just happened to drop by and see it and am a huge user of K-cups.

So how about it Pleasanton residents -- you all say that you want a nice and vibrant downtown. So open up your wallets and make it happen.

It seems this new Starbucks will do well in down town.

I wander what the automobile traffic and parking situation will be when this new Starbucks opens for business?

I like Starbucks. Not just their product but their business model. It's one of the best over several decades. I like other coffee too. I like big business. I like local business. Although it is hip and trendy to knock national chains over local business, here is the reality.

Starbucks doesn't suck. You may not like it, but it doesn't suck.
Local isn't always better. A lot of small, local businesses fail because they do indeed suck. Just because it's small and local doesn't make it better. If they went out of business, there's a good chance they just weren't very good at what they were trying to do. Countless large companies started as small, local businesses. They got big because they didn't suck.

This concept Starbucks is a positive step for our downtown in many ways. It has a very good chance of being very successful. That's why it is going in...to make money. That, after all, is the point of all this. Downtown Livermore didn't become what it is overnight.

If you want quaint, leave things the way they are. If you want downtown to become a place where you want to come, bring the family and spend some serious time and money, this is a good start.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for locally owned, but it needs to be good. If you put your personal biases aside and really think about it, this new Starbucks is a great thing for our downtown.

Starbucks shouldn't be in downtown Pleasanton!

See monologue starting at 5:00 minutes

Pleasanton monologue: Web Link

I'm happy there will finally be good coffee downtown. I like Starbucks not for image. It actually tastes great. If small business wants to make it then you have to be competitive. Be fantastic! I'm not going to spend money just because some people think it's quaint to have non franchises exclusively. I think Livermore is boring and kind of a yucky scene. I prefer Pleasanton. With a mix of all establishments. That's how capitalism works. If you are a great value and have a product we want you will survive. Pleasanton doesn't always offer that so the store dies. When I lived in sf I loved shopping in Union square. Mostly chains but I spent more money there because they had things I liked. Not so much here. Cest la vie
And therapy is also a chain. Used to shop there in sf too. People love it and now it's here as well. Are we supposed to not shop there because it's so fun and successful that its opening more stores and may someday become franchise? Don't they become chains and franchises because they do very well? Yes. They do. And that's why we will shop there.

To everybody who's happy about the Pastime closing...when people on this thread talk about boring and beige, there talking about you. Now all the rowdy bikers from Tullys got another place to go to. America is slowly dying, the Pastime was what America was about.

Rather than being verbose in a comment. Let's just say business is all about competition.

No, thank you. Too boring.

@FSB well written post, pop in anytime!! Hopefully the"blondies" in their big SUV's coming down the mountain from Ruby Hills don't find out about the new Starbucks,what a cluster it could be!! I predict double parking and even more illegal u- turns on Main Street, going to get interesting!!!!!