Politicians from all three levels of government said they would either go to YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Starbucks last - or not at all - for coffee, amidst a trade war between Canada and the United States.
But beyond the name, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 not much American about the shop at all.
When federal minister Rechie Valdez was in Yellowknife earlier this month, she said that, if she could find it, she would go to the city's Starbucks.
At least at first.
When SA国际影视传媒 brought up the trade war to her, and how the territorial government has been adamant that it stands behind Ottawa's "Team Canada" approach, her answer shifted somewhat.
"If it was my only option for coffee, sure," she said.
Part of the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Team Canada approach has meant no longer doing business with certain U.S. brands. For example, it ended its procurement contracts with American liquor products with no sign of resumption in sight.
Coun. Tom McLennan, like Valdez, said Starbucks would be his last choice too.
"My first choices for coffee are Birchwood, Barren Ground, Javaroma, Te Adoro or Kamp Coffee. I'll go out of my way to go to these places," said McLennan. "We are lucky to have so many options that are owned and operated by locals."
Yellowknife's Starbucks location opened in 2021 and is owned by Soul Coffee House.
Michael Pickard, district manager of Soul Coffee House, explained that no American company is deserving of a boycott.
Soul Coffee House is an extension of Soul Foods Group, a parent company that was established in Great Britain and later expanded into Canada. It has an office in Toronto.
Pickard added that Yellowknife's Starbucks gets most of its food from other parts of Canada, but it does get some things like smallware and roasting beans from the U.S., though.
Yellowknife's Starbucks has also paid the city for a business license and pays property taxes, he said, as do other brands under Soul Foods Group in other places around Canada such as KFC, Taco Bell and Burger King.
"As much as it's great that as a nation, we're 'elbows up' and we're looking to protect and we're looking to find new revenue streams for primary and secondary industries, this is also an industry that needs support. And in this situation, we are a Canadian entity," said Pickard.
He noted that since the tariff war between Canada and the U.S. began, Yellowknife's Starbucks has not seen a decline in business.
Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart previously told SA国际影视传媒 that he would be turning his attention toward local businesses such as Javaroma and Barren Ground Coffee and away from Starbucks when the trade war began. Following up to see if his opinion had changed, he said it hasn't.
Still, Testart has been to Starbucks since March, he admitted, only because his constituents have wanted to meet there.
"My hands are a little bit dirty, but I have kept my pocketbook clear as much as possible," he chuckled.
Asked about the storeSA国际影视传媒檚 Canadian ties, and whether that was enough to earn his business, Testart said Canada and the U.S. are fighting the dumbest trade war in history.
"If we just quietly ignore it and go on as business as normal and we don't send a strong message, then the chances of an unstable, erratic and politically insane opponent like Donald Trump is going to take liberties," Testart said.
