Mojo Origins
We can’t help feeling a little bit pleased that one of the Starbucks on Lambton Quay has closed, and been replaced by a shiny new Mojo:
This is the new Mojo Origins, out the front of Lambton Square, behind a schist facade that some years ago had been put together for an earlier tenant, Rodd & Gunn.
Predictably enough, when this SBUXectomy was mentioned on Twitter some of the responses were less than complimentary to Mojo. “Replacing one chain with another” seemed to be the refrain; and that might be technically true. However, for many reasons Mojo is no Starbucks, with two of the most relevant being:
- Mojo coffee is consistently very good.
- Each Mojo is allowed to be different.
Origins’ point of difference is the coffee. Just like Peoples, Coffee Supreme’s Customs, and Memphis Belle before them, Mojo is adding to their usual lineup of espresso based drinks by joining the brewed coffee trend… but unlike their competitors they’re taking it to a flagship shop on Wellington’s busiest shopping street. For what is at present a somewhat hipsterish obsession primarily enjoyed by coffee wonks who don’t seem to mind traipsing to the funkier ends of town for their fix this is reasonably ballsy of Mojo.
Along with the brews they’re also highlighting their single-origin beans. From later this week they’ll be offering (hopefully with a choice of bean) Chemex filtered coffee, and Siphon-brewed coffee. The Siphons in particular are recommended for their theatre; while this Wellingtonista prefers the Chemex for taste.
Mojo’s interiors are also usually worth a bit of inspection. This one seems a little under-designed by their usual standards. But between the map on the back wall, the pallets used as furniture, and the buckets of roasted coffee there is a little bit of an industrial vibe here grafted onto a busy high-street café. It’s even a little reminiscent of Mojo “Coffee Central”.
So, there we have it. Another new Mojo, and one worth a stop by to try out the new brews, and the only place in the Lambton “Quarter” offering such coffee-making methods.
Let’s hope it succeeds, and encourages our other local Wellington regional “chains” to invade the high streets and shopping areas, and thereby purge the town of all the Starbucks, Esquires, Gloria Jeans, and Coffee Clubs. The coffee capital we shall truly be!
Aha! This tweet from Mojo Boss Steve probably explains the interior.
I can’t imagine that the rent will be small, so I suspect expect the focus is on the coffee and food rather than a spendy fitout.
as someone who likes flavored beverage I’m a little sad
my occasional coffee related drink is in summer is a Starbucks iced moca or choclate with double mint no cream. it is by no means a coffee, but as a beverage it’s lovely and as beverages like this go, far better than Gloria jeans and Esquires.
Plus, at least Starbucks isn’t supporting some creepy Australian cult, unlike Gloria Jeans – at least as far as I know.
But Sue, there are still Starbucks outlets – two whole blocks up the street at the Old Bank…
what creepy australian cult is gloria jeans supporting? i know nothing of them/
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/they-sought-help-but-got-exorcism-and-the-bible/2008/03/16/1205602195048.html
When I first saw the lack of Starbucks in this spot, my first thought was “some god of some description just made my life that little bit better!” I despise Starbucks. In case you’re wondering my order of preference is Coffee Club, Gloria Jeans, Esquires then Starbucks. But in all likelihood, I’d chose none, I don’t even drink coffee this is based firstly on service then ‘quality’ hot chocolate.
But this morning, the Cat Stevens lyrics popped into my head whilst walking past Starbucks Willis. “I know we’ve come a long way/We’re changing day to day/But tell me, where will the couriers go?”. Okay, I had some artistic licence on that one. Seriously though?! In my early morning walks through the city, I learnt fairly early on that the courier drivers all hung out at three distinct locations around about 7-7:30am. 1) Starbucks Lambton Square 2) McDonald’s Manners Mall and 3) Starbucks Courtenay Central. They certainly don’t hang out at the Mall anymore, kicked out like the emos and drunks they clearly are, and now Starbucks LSq is no longer. Do they all converge on Courtenay Central? Or have the Lambton crowd switched their tastes to Mojo?. There’s none at McDonald’s Bunny Street (too busy I guess), and Starbucks Willis and Old Bank haven’t the parking available for half dozen courier drivers to pop in all at once.
Can anyone answer me this dilemma?
For completeness, I’ll note here that Mojo Origins has now closed. Apparently, it was just a “pop-up” shop and the lease expired in March ’12.