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cover of episode Third space jam: How Magic Johnson and Starbucks boosted entrepreneurship

Third space jam: How Magic Johnson and Starbucks boosted entrepreneurship

2024/11/20
logo of podcast The Indicator from Planet Money

The Indicator from Planet Money

Chapters

The chapter explores Magic Johnson's partnership with Starbucks to build cafes in Black and Latino neighborhoods, focusing on the initial challenges and successes of this venture.
  • Magic Johnson announced his retirement from basketball in 1991 and later partnered with Starbucks.
  • He initially faced skepticism from Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz but eventually convinced him to invest in urban neighborhoods.
  • The first Magic Johnson Starbucks opened in 1998 in the Heights in L.A., followed by others across the country.

Shownotes Transcript

There's been a lot of research showing how third spaces — a place that isn't the home nor the workplace — have brought communities together, even catalyzed revolutions. New research shows that coffee shops in particular could be key to sparking new businesses, too.Today on the show, caffeine-fueled entrepreneurship. We go back a few decades for the story of how Magic Johnson partnered to build Starbucks cafes in Black and Latino neighborhoods, and how new research) has shed light on how Magic's plan changed entrepreneurship in those communities. *Related Episodes: Oil gluts, Russian bucks, and Starbucks)*Magic Johnson on basketball, business, and being the face of HIV)*****For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org). Music by Drop Electric). Find us: TikTok), Instagram), Facebook), Newsletter). *Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)