A group of loyal customers have united to protest the planned closing of Starbucks in Jackson. Far from another local business, the Starbucks located on the corner of Highway 49 and Clinton Road is one of 600 locations the coffee giant plans on closing nationwide. But local Starbucks loyalists are not about to give up without a fight. Jackson Residents Roger Amaral and Joyce Larsen have been simultaneously protesting and enjoying their hot beverages in front of the shop each morning. They have been petitioning for signatures from customers as they enter the store, and so far have collected over 400.

The sheer volume of signatures on the petition is evidence of the many coffee enthusiasts who frequent the chain, even in these tough economic times. But with two other Starbucks locations in the Martell shopping center, one Amador City resident who regularly buys her coffee at Andrae’s Bakery hardly sees what the fuss is about. “I could understand if they were fighting for lost jobs, but let’s give some smaller businesses a chance. And if you really want your Starbucks, is it that hard to drive to the one in Martell?” she said. For the past ten years, the coffee juggernaut has been expanding at an astronomical rate. The Amador County locations are just three of 16,000 stores worldwide. The official closing date has yet to be announced.