Picture of 48 Albion Street Leeds.Previously I have gone out of my way to ignore places like Starbucks on this blog about Leeds because they represent everything that is, in my view, wrong with our towns and cities.
This attitude is I think wrong in the sense that this building in the above photograph currently occupied by Starbucks, is I think rather a nice old stone built building.
This is the corner of Albion Street and Commercial Street in Leeds city centre, the light building on the far right of the photo is The Leeds Library of which I am a member.
I took the photograph a few days back on a nice bright and sunny day unlike today where it is 10/10 cloud and muggy here in Leeds.
Posts
I agree with your view on the franchise stores. Here in Canada every town and city are looking the same with all the same businesses. It takes away the originality.
ReplyDeleteLovely building! It is nice though, if they are going to be there, that Starbucks assimilates into existing structures.
ReplyDeleteI have to sadly agree. I still recall living in NYC in the 1990s, when neighborhoods were filled with small locall businesses that had been there for years, often run by the same family. Now these neighborhoods resemble large malls. Change can be good, but in so many communities some essential character was replaced by a soulless big name place.
ReplyDeleteStarbucks do have a habit of using handsome old buildings, good if some of their profits go into maintaining them I suppose.
ReplyDeleteToo often these franchise businesses seem to want to rip out the old and replace it with the bland - often an unconcious comment on their merchandise. So well done, Starbucks, on having a little bit of taste.
ReplyDeleteHave to admit that I don't like the taste of Starbucks coffee, fantastic building... and brilliant sky though!
ReplyDeleteGreat building set off with that beautiful blue sky. Fabulous! PS....I like (the 's' word) but I understand what you and our other friends are saying. Take care!
ReplyDelete