Portland Police Advise iPhone Users Not To Stare, Zombielike, At Their Devices
News Portland police yesterday announced that they'd caught that most elusive brand of criminal, the smar... More
May 25, 2012 12:32 pm by COREY PEIN | Comments 1
Oswego Lake Access Issue Heads to Federal Court
Lawsuit says the city has a responsibility to “protect and preserve the public’s right of access to and use of the Lake.”
News A federal judge may decide if Oswego Lake is open to the public. A lawsuit filed this morning in U.... More
May 24, 2012 01:16 pm by Martin Cizmar | Comments 9
Oregonian's Sister Paper To Cease Daily Publication; Updated
News In another sign of the difficult financial realities for print newspapers, the New Orleans Times-Pic... More
May 24, 2012 09:20 am by NIGEL JAQUISS | Comments 2
Oregon Senators Back Bill Aimed At Citizens United
News Speaking of money in politics… U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is among those speaking on the Senate... More
May 23, 2012 11:08 am by Corey Pein | Comments 0
Schools Miss Out on $40 Million in Energy Savings
News An audit by the State of Oregon has found school districts missed out on $40 million of potential en... More
May 22, 2012 03:10 pm by CODY NEWTON | Comments 0
Phil Knight Also Contributes To Higher Ed PAC
News We're not going to record every donation to the new political action committee called Oregonians for... More
May 22, 2012 08:44 am by NIGEL JAQUISS | Comments 3
Here's the most basic question that needs asking and answering:
If the company was NOT bought, why would the owner be so deliberately evasive about it? In other words, if Stumptown's owner thinks this is good for the company, wouldn't he be glad to speak about it?
Good point. As always, the coverup is worse than the "crime."
That an ambitious business owner sought additional investment (or, if you prefer, "sold out") to expand his business is pretty much a nonstory (and bully for him). What's making it newsworthy is Sorenson and his surrogates' secrecy and evasiveness about it, even going so far as to possibly have misled or even lied about who now "owns" Stumptown.
It is possible there was a nondisclosure clause in the contract Sorenson signed with TSG. That might explain everyone's tight lips. However, even if true, that that arrangement was perfectly fine with Sorenson suggests he agrees with the need to keep the deal on the down-low. He undoubtedly understood what a massive blow to his cred and image selling out to these specific mass marketers represents (Spic n' Span? Famous Amos? Really? That's who he wanted to get in bed with??!!).
Why is this such a big story? Little companies grow big and sell out all the time. It's not like Portlanders are significantly unique people, compared to the rest of the coountry. We all love money, whether or not we're willing to admit it.
Good for Sorenson. He's produced a good product fairly, and I enjoy his product - at other cafes.
Stumptown's retail locations were plagued by the diffident hipster service characteristic of Portland. The same people who don't mind that *do* mind Stumptown and its owner not being poor and obscure anymore.
I'll still drink Stumptown Coffee - and all you hipsters can just suck on your American Spirits and look for another obscure brand to impress people with.