Now Open

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

The much-discussed Starbucks branch in Williamsburg opened its doors yesterday on Union Avenue, and locals had plenty to say about the chain's arrival. Surprisingly, not all of it was bad: "It's a great business," said a 49-year neighborhood resident, who will become a regular. But, then again, a decent amount of it was bad: "I was about to spit on it—quote me!" [Bedford & Bowery]