I went out to coffee today to get some work done. I decided to drive to Java G's. Even though there are a lot of coffee shops between my home and there, they are the one shop in Des Moines that has put it all together: great espresso drinks, nice ambiance, and free internet. A lot of shops have one or maybe two of these, but Java G's is the only shop with all three. I'm very sad to say that I just finished my last drink from them. Today is their last day of business. I remember when I first went to Java G's 5 years ago on a visit to Des Moines with Heather. We were excited that upscale coffee had finally made it to Iowa. The coffee scene here in Des Moines has grown by leaps and bounds since that day 5 years ago, but it is taking a turn for the worse with the loss of Java G's. They did everything right. I guess that is why they are going out of business. It seems most people would rather go to Starbucks and pay for internet, sit in an artificially transferrable environment, be covertly barraged with marketing schemes, and be charged too much for bad coffee. (Come to think of it, replace the word "coffee" with "theology" in the above sentence and that is what it seems a lot people in America want out of church.) I'm really disappointed. It is just a reminder that nice, well-run, local establishments like Java G's are an endangered species in America. More generally, it is a sad reminder that doing things right doesn't necessarily guarantee success.
