First off, let me explain that I love Teavana.

The only one in the Charleston area is the one in Mount Pleasant which I frequently visit. They have the most amazing collection of tea and tea products. They also let you smell and taste as many teas as you want.

In fact, I have been guilty of spending upwards of two hours in there just tea tasting.

The people that work there have exceptional customer service as well. Not once have I ever felt that they were annoyed by all my questions or tea tasting requests. I would go as far as to say that they actually enjoy answering questions and helping their customers find the perfect tea.

Sadly though, this one-of-a-kind place will be shutting its doors permanently. Actually, all the Teavana’s in the country will be going out of business. Who is to blame for this tragedy?

Starbucks.

The reason?

Simply, Teavana is not making enough money for Starbucks to see them as profitable so they are just going to go ahead and liquidate them.

Geez, so I guess if Starbucks doesn’t think you’re a cash cow then it’s Sayonara to you...bye Felicia.

I understand that part of being a business is making money, I get it. But, really, doesn’t Starbucks make enough money so that they can afford to help out the company they inherited only a couple of years ago? Plus, tea drinking is the direction we are now headed in anyways. In the future, Teavana is likely to be a major power player in the beverage industry. Starbucks doesn’t want to wait for that though.

Instead, Starbucks has decided they will sell a few of Teavana’s top-selling teas so that customers can still enjoy a Teavana tea. How sweet of Starbucks, right? Thinking about the customer.

Wrong. Every time I have ever gotten a tea from Starbucks something is wrong with it, or it just doesn’t taste good. Why? Because Starbucks doesn’t care if the water they brew your tea in is the right temperature or not.

Bitter tasting tea, busted tea bags from overly hot water? They don’t care as long as there is hot water and a teabag in your cup. If they got those two things right then they think they have successfully provided you with a Starbucks quality tea. Well newsflash, Starbucks quality tea sucks.

Now, I don’t hate Starbucks entirely. I think they have great coffee, you know, that’s what they are good at. I’m just saying, why not let the little guy keep doing what they are good at too?

Why boil everything down to a numbers game where whatever provides the biggest bang for the buck, despite the inherit lack of quality, wins? At this pace Charleston, like so many other cities, are on the fast track to be nothing more than a mere collection of Walmart’s, McDonald’s, and Starbucks.