Starbucks started in Seattle 32 years ago before opening almost 18,000 coffee shops in 60 countries. At 6 a.m. Monday morning, Starbucks opened its doors to Greencastle too.
Greencastle residents David Brownfield and Paula Jones were the coffee shop's first customers, after waiting outside since 5:30 a.m.
"This will be good for Greencastle," Brownfield said while sipping a pumpkin spice latte. "[Starbucks] will get a lot of a.m. traffic because of the factories around here. People will respond to this."
At 6:13 a.m. it was still dark outside, but Brownfield was adamant that he will be at the shop everyday at the same time on his way to work.
"This will also be a good place for students and townspeople to get to meet," Paula Jones said, sitting beside Brownfield, holding a white cup imprinted with the iconic Starbucks logo.
Jacqueline Finney, manager of Eli's books, also hopes that the Starbucks will act as a neutral ground for students and Greencastle residents.
"We saw a good mix of DePauw faculty and students as well as townspeople [on the first day]" Finney said Monday evening. "We want to provide products and services that will please both."
Finney described the first day as a constant flow of customers.
"Everyone was really positive," she said. "There were a lot of good reactions."
Senior Anisha Yadav is particularly excited about the arrival of Starbucks. She was among the few students to wake up before dawn to get in her first order: a chai tea latte and breakfast sandwich.
"Starbucks is part of everyone's college experience, and now it's part of mine," Yadav said.
But Yadav insists that she, like other students, will continue to support other local coffee shops.
"I love The Blue Door's food," she said. "And I'll still go to Roy to study, it's quieter there."
Jacqueline Finney also insists that the presence of Starbucks will not hurt local coffee shops and cafés.
"I don't think it will take any business from other local businesses," she said.
Finney says that Starbucks is looking forward to this weekend, where there will be live music and book signings as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony.
"It was a great first day," Finney said. "And it's only going to get better with our three-day grand opening celebration this week."