CHICAGO – A small group of protestors rallied Tuesday outside the first Starbucks to open in Little Village.
The Starbucks opened its doors last week in the Discount Mall Plaza, the same mall where longtime vendors lost their court fight to stop their evictions last year. Protestors fear the arrival of Starbucks will displace businesses that have been there for decades and spur gentrification., while undermining Little Village’s identity.
Here’s what protestors are calling for:
“This is not just about coffee, it’s about preserving our community’s character and supporting local entrepreneurs,” said Victor Garcia, a local business owner. “We believe that the presence of a corporation like Starbucks will overshadow our unique Latino businesses and dilute our cultural identity.”
WGN News reached out to Starbucks Tuesday, but has not yet heard back.
The protest comes less than two weeks after the Little Village Community Council led a demonstration near 25th and Kedzie regarding the Starbucks moving in.