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Delocator.net launched in 2005 so users could locate independently owned cafés. The Delocator is the opposite of an online retail store locator, common to corporate store websites. In 2006 book stores and movie theaters were added. Finally, in 2009, users can log in to the site, modify their entries and add more types of independently owned stores. Jim Bursch reprogrammed the site so the zip code function works in all areas. Corporate industries invading American neighborhoods, from coffee to book store and movie theater "chains", pose a threat to the authenticity of our unique neighborhoods. Although there is room on the map for shared territories - both the homogenous corporate enterprise and the independent ventures across the nation, our independent, community-operated businesses deserve your dime.

 

In An Analysis of the Potential Economic Impact of Austin Unchained (Nov. 15, 2003), Civic Economics reports: "For every $100 in consumer spending at Borders, the total local economic impact is only $13. The same amount spent with BookPeople (an independently owned bookstore) and Waterloo (an independently owned music store) yields more than three times the local economic impact."

 

Many independent store owners talk about knowing the community, creating a friendly and supportive atmosphere, and chatting with clients about their kids, school games, and local news. "People say we're cozy, not corporate," said coffee shop owner Holler. "We can make our own rules and we can empower our staff to do so as well. A Starbucks employee doesn't have the pride in ownership that they do at our store."

 

Support the underdog and promote a future that includes the culture of small businesses! Independent bookstores are facing a grave challenge. Cody's Books in Berkeley, California was a bona fide cultural institution on Telegraph Avenue. In his recent announcement (May 10, 2006), owner Andy Ross says, "It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that Cody's will be closing our doors at the Telegraph Avenue store for the last time on July 10." In the past fifteen years, Cody's sales have declined by 66%. Cody's is certainly not the only independent bookstore to close its doors. The American Booksellers Association has seen a decline in membership from 5200 bookstores in 1991 to 1702 stores in 2005.

 

With chains on the rise, supporting local institutions (and many independent bookstores are truly thought of as cultural institutions) promotes a future that includes our neighborhood bookstores, movie theaters and coffee shops and denies the type of news that Andy Ross so sadly delivers. Become active on Delocator.net and help promote independent businesses across the country!

 

Articles in print

Arellano, Gustavo. "Star-bucker." OC Weekly, 02/02/06.
Dizon, Kristin. "Web site steers away from the corporate chains for an independent cup of java." Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 01/24/06
Collinson, Stephen. "Latte lovers left frothing over coffee wars" AFP, Mail&Guardian Online, 06/20/05.
Glenn, Joshua. "Delocate me" Boston Globe, 06/19/05.
Severson, Kim. "The Little Coffee Shop Around the Corner" New York Times, 5/4/05
Zorn, Eric. "Land of Linkin'" Chicago Tribune, 4/22/05
Schwartz, Karen. "Want to Avoid Starbucks? Check out the Web" Columbia News Service, 4/19/05
Allen, Jules. "Site Seeing" St. Petersburg Times, 4/18/05
Grobaty, Tim. "Coffe and the Bear Claw" Long Beach Press Telegram, 4/12/05
Dibbell, Julian. "Big Joe Goes Down" The Village Voice, 4/8/05
Andrews, Catherine. "Coffee for the Independent-Minded", dcist.com, 4/6/05
Chin, Brian. "Indie Café Finder" Local Sec., Buzzworthy, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4/6/05
Carfi, Christopher. "Customers Use Social Technology to Route Around Corporate Monoculture" Social Customer Manifesto, www.socialcustomer.typepad.com, 4/5/05
Attack of the Show, "Must....Have....Caffiene" Episode #5054, G4 TV, 4/5/05
"delocator.net" ArtBase, Rhizome.org, 4/3/05
Live Feed "Delocator launches grassroots anti-Starbucks movement" Agenda Inc. 4/3/05

 

IN THE PRESS

Delocator.net has been blogged and reported on in traditional newspapers and magazines. Here are links to some favored reviews. If you'd like to blog or report on Delocator.net use the Contact form to send interview questions to xtine or use the buttons below to add Delocator to your favorite social networking tools.

 

The blogs that started the hype

StayFreeMagazine.org
BoingBoing.net
LifeHacker.com
Metafilter.com

BrowniePointsBlog.com

 

And a book

Delocator has appeared in the book Life's Little Annoyances by Ian Urbina.