Kyle Corea, one of the managers of Funk n’ Waffles, said he wishes he could print a list of everything wrong with chain coffee shops, and how small shops like his are better. Too bad I only have 550 words.
Instead of the corporate-mandated repetition of specially selected tracks, small coffee shops have a sound all their own. Whether it’s an old record, a surprising playlist, or a live band at Funk n’ Waffles DJ Wednesdays, you never know what tune your about to hear. The space to sit and relax at Funk n’ Waffles, Freedom of Espresso, or in the room adjacent to People’s Place is so much more welcoming than the revolving door of customers flowing in and out of chain shops.
More importantly, the goods these shops offer don’t come from a giant warehouse or industrial sized freezer. People’s Place rotates through more than two-dozen different Fair Trade, organic flavors, soaked in different brews to offer calorie-free, syrup-free, good-for-the-world flavored coffee, and Funk n’ Waffles makes every specialty drink by hand. Food is made fresh with local, organic products, and benefits other small business like Byrne Dairy and Liberty Deli.
Elysa Smigielski, a senior studio arts student, said she strays from chains because she believes in helping local businesses, and in these small shops’ mission to do the same. “I bought this mug at Freedom of Espresso for $20,” she said. “I could have gotten one at Target for $5, but I want to help these little places because they have quality products and a great atmosphere.”
Still, the small shops often offer better prices. People’s Place sells the same Tazo teas as Starbucks. The quality is exactly the same, but the price for a large tea at People’s is $0.50, compared to $2.35 at Starbucks. A large mocha is $1 versus $4.15. If you buy one cup of coffee per class day for a semester, that’s $252—which could like, totally pay for a new pair of Uggs and leggings!
But there’s more separating People’s Place, Funk n’ Waffles, or Freedom of Espresso apart from corporate chains than price. These tiny shops are an escape from a materialistic campus with a credit card and an attitude problem. They are tiny havens of caring individuals and caffeinated beverages. As a manger of People’s Place, I know that when we hire employees, we aren’t looking for how many barista jobs they’ve had; we’re looking to see if they’re going to ask customers how their day is, and genuinely care to hear the response.
Before I left to study abroad in London last semester, two of my favorite customers handmade me a coffee mug, as a keepsake of my time at People’s Place. Upon my return, peers, faculty, staff, and people I just know by their coffee orders were giving me hugs, showing me baby photos, and telling me which of my blog posts were their favorites. When you become a regular customer at a small coffee shop, you’re not just getting a quick pick-me-up to get you through a bio lecture. You’re becoming a part of an intimate family who isn’t interested in taking your money (that jar on the PP counter benefits a children’s fund).
I am overwhelmed by the impact these small shops, their staffs, and their customers have made in my time as a Syracuse student. What started as a cheap cup of coffee has made my life a mixture of Comstock and Westcott— a blend between clean-cut prep and something with a little more edge. Moving away from Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts changed more than just where I went on a Saturday night or what songs I downloaded to my iPod; It changed how I view myself in this world by exposing me to people who don’t try so hard to fit in. That’s an awfully big result for an 85-cent hazelnut with cream.
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