The company is still capable of designing and opening a store in 16 weeks or less and recouping the initial investment in three years the stores may be oases of tranquility but management is expansion tactics are something else take what critics call it's predatory real estate strategy paying more than market-rate rents to keep compettitors out of a location David c schomer owner of espresso vivace in Seattle is hip capital hill neighborhood says Starbucks approached his landlord and offered to pay nearly double the rest to put a coffee shop in the same building the landlord stuck with schomer who says it is a little disconcerting to know that someone is willing to pay twice the going rate another time Starbucks and Tull is coffee corp a Seattle -based coffee chain were competing for a space in the city Starbucks got the lease but vacated the premises before the team was up still rather than late Tully is get the space Starbucks decided to pay the rent on the empty store so it's competitor could not more in Schultz make no apologies for the hardball tactics the real estate business in American is a very very tough game he says lt is not for faint of heart