CHICAGO – Community leaders said their concerns are coming to life now that Starbucks is moving into the Discount Mall in Little Village.
The Little Village Community Council led the demonstration near 25th and Kedzie after finding out Starbucks will move into the Discount Mall, the same mall where longtime vendors lost their court fight to stop their evictions last year.
Protestors said many residents are worried about gentrification. They fear the chain’s arrival will hurt more small businesses and undermine Little Village’s identity.
“We have seen that money buys power here, and we have people power which is more stronger than money, because the community doesn’t need these type of businesses because we already have great coffee shops here in Little Village,” said Little Village Community Councilmember Baltazar Enriquez.
“We have started a campaign called ‘Not One Drop’ and there will be not one drop of Starbucks consumed by the community until they agree to meet with the community and agree to the demands of the community,” Little Village Community Councilmember Graciela Garcia added.
Demands include paying a livable wage, hiring local, and investing some of the profits in the community.
The Little Village Chamber of Commerce said it advocated for a local business to occupy the space.
“Moving forward, our focus is on fostering a positive relationship between Starbucks and the neighborhood, encouraging them to engage responsibly, support local initiatives, and contribute to the overall well-being of the area,” they said in a statement.
The Starbucks is set to open in late September.
A Starbucks spokesperson issued the following statement:
“We’re incredibly proud to open a community store in the Little Village community, and we will continue to work closely with community members as this store and our partners connect with their neighbors, build partnerships with local organizations, and support community events.”