http://www.portcityjava.com/No. We are not saying that you avoid what was once a proud, local bean roaster that quickly turned into a giant corporation that shamelessly bled it's workers and customers for the sake of the almighty profit. The allegations and counter allegations that nearly brought the company to it's knees last year are simply the visible scars that were revealed to the public. The drama is detailed below:
http://www.wwaytv3.com/taxonomy/term/1200/allButytv3.com/taxonomy/term/1200/all
But WAY before that, there were signals that all was not well with the brand. It was being broadcast from the front line of the company's true customer relations department: it's workers. At the time, the company did not care about anything but the day's receipts.
According to the employees, their pay was low and they relied on tips to supplement a barely reasonable income; that made them resentful of customers who are not good tippers. They did not get overtime for Christmas hours or any holiday hours that they worked. The stores were constantly under pressure to perform better than last quarter by any means, while the continued expansion of new store (even internationally) continued to build the face of the brand and not the infrastructure.
We have always been skeptical of their Fairganic campaign, which purports to help poor coffee farmers, as just another ploy by a big-ass corporation to make you feel less guilty about the coffee-sustained despots in Third World countries that you are supporting by paying $4 for a fuckin' latte. The new president of the company pitches the case for Fairganic here: http://www.welcome-mag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7041&Itemid=31
Let's take care of your poor American employees first, buddy. Then you can start worrying about farmers who don't even know where there coffee goes once it hits the market.
With a new leadership in place, and a fresh promise to address the needs and suggestions of employees and customers, we wish Port City the very best on their new lease on business life.
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Anyway. The Port City Java at Lumina Station is the jewel of the franchise. There is really nothing about the inside of the store that differentiates it from the others. Actually, it has a more cramped interior than most of the other locations. What makes this one special is that it is located in the manicured garden jubilee that is Lumina Station. You can should get your coffee and sit outside a
nd enjoy a cool breeze in the shade. The tall trees , flowers, and the privacy of the raised bed planters that face the parking lot, add a special feel to an outdoor seating area that is unmatched by any other coffee space in town. The people watching experience is also awesome. Just about everyone that works at Lumina Station will drop in for coffee throughout the morning, and we have seen some high-powered informal meetings take place in which million dollar homes changed hands thanks to Intracoastal Realty, which is located next door.
The Landfill regulars, and the daytime shoppers, also add to the exclusive feel of this location. It is a great place to bring children and a friendly dog to have a relaxing coffee break. We never liked the food at Port City Java. You could have the bagels or maybe a muffin, but the wraps, sandwiches, and other prepared foods were a disaster that needed to be fixed. Try the new sandwich selection to see if there has been improvement. We're a bit gun-shy after trying items from the previous menu, so you need to find out for yourself and give your feedback. And, we are not big fans of their coffee, which is better than Starbucks, but still not that great. However, there are no shortage of loyal customers that strongly disagree with that assessment. (This run-on paragraph was hastily written while hopped up on coffee.)
Next: Ice Cream, Blacula. Ice Cream.
