I happened across an interesting blog article this morning entitled Dead Startup Walking, in which a well-intended author supports his local coffee shop, despite its substandard service and product offerings.
We all hate to see small businesses fail, but the harsh reality is that they have failed for a reason — assuming that failure has not occurred by unforeseen tragedy or illegal anticompetitive action of its competition, it is GOOD for you and me (as consumers) for the weak to close. No business “deserves” to be successful; success must be earned as a result of performance. Unless a coffee shop is serving a product you like in a way that you like at a location that is convenient for you and price that is acceptable - don’t go there. You do a great service to the buying public by rewarding the type of business that you want to see more of with your patronage, not with charitable contributions to mediocrity.
Your consumer dollar is a vote for the future retail landscape of your country; be sure to cast those votes carefully.