Fall Creek & College Starbucks closes

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A Starbucks that was once hailed as the beginning of Fall Creek community revitalization is now closed.

Back in the summer of 2005, Magic Johnson a partner in the Starbucks at Fall Creek and College attended the stores grand opening. Those in the community believed their new Starbucks marked a new beginning for this struggling area.

"I mean the neighborhoods picking up," said one resident.

On Thursday, that same Starbucks was boarded up, locked up, closed for good. It was a shock to many patrons including Debra Goldsmith who use to stop at Starbucks on her way to Ivy Tech.

"Every Thursday afternoon I have class so I stop here and get my pumpkin spice latte especially this time of year. That's my favorite drink," said Goldsmith.

She was disappointed to learn her favorite Starbucks was closed. But, neighbors say they're not surprised.

"$5 for a cup of coffee is extremely high. And people wasn't satisfied with that," said James Gorman, Fall Creek resident.

But, he said his neighbors were pleased with the fact that Starbucks employed so many of the neighborhood's young people. But still, he worried.

"The incidents that happened in the hood. A lot of things happened around here," said Gorman.

In the past month, Starbucks was the target of a number of robberies. Company executives insist the robberies aren't the reason for the closing, but leaders admit to "escalating the timeline for closure."

And, what was once seen as a sign of new birth is perhaps now a sign of the times.