The closure of the Starbucks at Westheimer Parkway and South Mason Road at the Kroger shopping center represents more than just another casualty in the coffee giant’s nationwide restructuring. It marks the end of something our chain-heavy master-planned communities desperately need more of: genuine family friendly community gathering spaces that are walkable from our neighborhoods.
The store closed quietly, without fanfare last week, and for those of us who made it part of our routine, the loss stings in ways that have nothing to do with coffee.
Let me be honest: I didn’t go there for the coffee. Anyone seeking a truly rich, smooth cup can find better options elsewhere, but that wasn’t the point…