Yes, I know they are everywhere. Yes, I know that some people question the authenticity of a place that wants to be a community third place, and yet, looks exactly the same from place to place. I even know that there are other places to drink coffee and gather with the community. But I’ll tell you this:
When you are driving through Lake City Florida (not a huge city by any means) and you see familiar green umbrellas and a green, round logo, life is good.
It’s great to be home.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I love seeing those green umbrellas too and life isn’t just good, it’s great!
Yes you are right- there are other places to gather, but the green umbrella is a “known” a “given” and sometimes when life gets crazy and everything is “not as normal” – for instance while you are traveling back from dropping your daughter of at college
– the familiar site of the green umbrella brings the feeling of familiar, it is certainly a welcoming site. For me, in times of so much change and flux in our lives – saying a “grande non-fat-no water chai” and knowing what I will get is a “good” thing!
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My store doesn’t have the green umbrellas (for obvious reasons); but I’ve worked at a store that did…and three that did not. I really hated setting up and tearing down those umbrellas everyday.
You wouldn’t think so, but they take a lot of time and they’re really awkward. In fact, a barista I worked with broke (yes, broke) it it half, not once, but twice! But, they are SO iconic. Everything has a flipside, I guess. 