Friday Morning Coffee Club bids fond farewell to 'team members' at Cranbrook Target store as Starbucks closes

FMCC final meeting at Target Starbucks in Cranbrook

The Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, held its last meeting at the Starbucks in the Cranbrook Target store today (January 23/15) bidding a fond farewell to the "team members" for their friendly service and hospitality over the almost two years we have been meeting there.

FMCC is a minor casualty of course,compared to the situation facing the more than 100 "team members" at the Cranbrook store as Target closes its 133 stores in Canada, but we really did not want to  move.

In fact, upon arrival today, we did not know that Starbucks was closing so soon, until executive team members, always professional, came and gave us the news, thanking us for our weekly visits.

Merry Christmas to Target guests

FMCC was founded at Target Starbucks shortly after the store opened. I started having coffee there simply to show support for former students from College of the Rockies, who had become part of the new venture.

Joel Vinge joined me within a week, followed by Jim Roberts: the word spread and we have had up to 15 members show up for coffee, and we are all from different walks of life, and different parts of the country and one from the United States.

As FMCC membership grew, we chatted about the possibility of moving to a larger place, but decided to stay with our friends at Target.

We have celebrated birthdays, Halloween (and my birthday), and during the holiday season delivered a rousing rendition of "We wish you a Merry Christmas' to Target guests -- assisted by store team members.

Our weekly get togethers have led to new friendships and also resulted in Breakfast at the Ranch hosted by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge, with Chef Justin Cleland, and a Christmas party at the home of Ron McFarland.

Next week, we will hold another Breakfast at the Ranch for a special meal prepared by Chef Justin, assisted by Jim and Mark.

FMCC plans to continue. A search committee has been formed and is scouting suitable locations for the group.

However, it won't be the same. Without getting into the pros and cons of Target's decision to pack up and leave Canada, they have an excellent team at their Cranbrook store, and on a very personal basis. I will miss them.

Many have become personal friends, and I wish them all the best. You gave FMCC a great home, and quite frankly deserved better. Thank you.