[URBAN NOTE] "Queen and Dovercourt Starbucks Closes, “Drake You Ho” Culprit Still at Large"

[rfmcdonald]

Torontoist's Vicky Mochama, on the subject of the now-departed Starbucks at Queen and Dovercourt, has a nice humour feature imagining the memo sent to Starbucks re: Queen Street West's gentrification.

MEMO: Neighbourhood Assimilation Meeting

TO: Howard Schultz, CEO
FROM: Starbucks Marketing, Gentrification Division
November 1, 2005

Howard,

Our team has been working towards a neighbourhood strategy for Toronto’s Queen and Dovercourt location.

Any business with an eye on success will want to fit into the ultra-hip neighbourhood of West Queen West. It’s a neighbourhood that prides itself on creativity, youthful energy, and edginess, as well as not being Parkdale. The community has lots of notable landmarks, including Trinity Bellwoods, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (…Canada, right?), and The Drake Hotel. The Drake has re-opened following a massive renovation. Our research has shown that this will bring to the area more money and attention. Naturally, residents hate it.

The full memo is at Torontoist.