Ever since the fire originating in the Rise Up gun range burned down a third of the old Food Fair strip mall, there have been speculations on the town’s various social grapevines. Many who frequented the now defunct Dunkin Doughnuts hope that the franchise will return to its original location as before the fire. Gossip has stated that allegedly a Starbucks Coffee shop will be located in the new store grouping. If this is true this would be a definite upgrade in the commercial offerings that Pearl River would be able to offer to residents and consumers.
In Pearl River, there was always the feeling among the residents of town that chain or franchised business would attract a “Bad Element” who would cause various criminal problems along with young people hanging around till late, drinking, fighting, and committing small robberies. The resistance against chain stores used to be stiff in town. It was said that the businessmen and politicians felt that even having phone booths on the streets would attract prostitutes and drug dealers conducting business via these public phones. By the time the phone company pressed for the installment of public phones, the coming of the cell phone made the point moot. Eventually two or three were installed in Pearl River’s business district, but were removed in the 1990s when the cell phone made its ubiquitous market penetration. Another situation of this nature was had when the old brick high school, built in 1922, was torn down in the winter of 1982/83 and the large green was being eyed by a supermarket chain. Thankfully, this did not come to fruition. Today residents of Pearl River enjoy a traditional “green” where it has proven invaluable for recreation for all. My point is don’t fear new businesses until they prove themselves a bad fit for the community. The word is, true or not, that this Starbucks will have a drive through window behind the strip mall which will not only be a convenience to customers, but will provide activity, making the back of the mall a well trafficked area. That should keep that “bad element” out, which if anyone remembers there had been drug dealing behind the old bowling alley, now Retro Fitness, in the past.
A Starbucks would be a welcome store in town. It will hopefully draw more business into the area and is quite popular among coffee drinkers of all ages. I have never seen a Starbucks coffee shop without a long line of people waiting to be served. If everything just said actually happens, especially with a drive through window at the rear, what’s not to love?
