A lively bunch of regulars at Bean Hollow coffee shop say they would never trade their independently owned shop for a chain.
Three Starbucks have cropped up in Ellicott City ? one on U.S. 40, and one each in a Barnes & Noble and a Target on Montgomery Road.
But owner Gretchen Shuey said Bean Hollow has significantly increased its sales in the four years since she bought the shop that used to be called Riverside Cafe.
“People come to us for a reason. We have insisted on keeping a community-based businesses. We take a lot of pride in getting to know our customers,” Shuey said.
However, Starbucks Coffee company has its own set of offerings that can be hard for a small business to compete with.
“How do we compete? It?s the quality of our coffee, and the relationships we have with the coffee farmers, customers and our own partners,” said Andy Fouche, global communications representative for Starbucks.
Shuey has resisted the pressure to emulate the giants, by fending off pressure to install wireless Internet in her store.
“You can have a computer at work, in your car, at home. I truly believe you should take 15 minutes out of your day to get to know people,” Shuey said.
Her customers don?t seem to mind the lack of laptops. The store?s success is based on a combination of its coffee, which is roasted on site, and the promise of good conversation.
“There is too much talking to do!” said Judy Miesko, a customer who gathers with other regulars at the shop to trade books, sip coffee and discuss politics.
“It?s the camaraderie. People come here to get to know other people,” she said.
Bean Hollow?s rustic charm fits in well with Ellicott City?s historic district. The shop, which resides on the site of a former funeral home, is complete with its own ghost stories and has a spot on the Ellicott City ghost tour.
Starbucks prices:
Grande (medium) coffee: $1.79
Grande latte or cappuccino: $3.20
Bean Hollow prices:
Medium coffee: $1.70
Medium latte or cappuccino: $3.15
