Starbucks is back in the local news cycle, but this time coffee behemoth is looking a bit like a Goliath — with no giant slayer in sight.

The Business Journal’s Ben Hensley broke the news Thursday that the Fosters Freeze location near Palm and Bullard avenues in Fresno is closing, making way for a Starbucks with a double drive-thru.

According to landlord Jim Burden, Fosters Freeze has been a good tenant, but their volume has been flat. He knows that because part of the rent was a percentage of sales.

Starbucks has signed a lease for the storefront and could be up and running by the end of the year. Fosters Freeze will close within 60 days.

And news out of Clovis from yourcentralvalley.com — Starbucks is in the early stages of opening a location near Ashlan and Peach avenues, less than 400 feet away from locally owned Monkey Dog Coffee.

It’s a sweet location, near hundreds of workers with Fresno County Department of Social Services in the former Costco location. The Starbucks would be located where the gas pumps are.

What were just rumors is now an existential threat to owner Alex Osuna. He told yourcentralvalley.com the name Monkey Dog is a combination of nicknames he and his wife call their kids.

The logo is the silhouette of a monkey riding on the back of a large dog.  

 

In business since 2017, the Osunas have the opportunity to show just how much fight there is in the dog.

“We are going to continue to push great products,” Osuna told the news station. “This news for us, it’s tough, but I’m confident we can push through and even steal their customers.”

They host indoor pop-up events at their shop at 386 W. Ashlan Ave. in Clovis, giving opportunities for other business owners to sell their wares. The next one is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It’s not the ‘90s anymore, with Starbucks facing competition from the likes of Dutch Bros, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Peet’s Coffee and even McDonald’s. In our neck of the woods, Kuppa Joy keeps growing.

But can a local business survive when Starbucks comes knocking on their door?

That’s a question only loyal customers can answer.