Dempsey on Tully's future: 'We're going to keep these jobs alive'
SEATTLE -- "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey may be the real "McSteamy."
The actor, who was dubbed "McDreamy" by fans of the hospital drama while his co-star affectionately has been called "McSteamy," won a bankruptcy auction to buy Tully's Coffee, a small coffee chain based in Seattle.
"I'm very excited -- there's a lot of opportunity here for us and for the employees to keep this company intact," Dempsey said. "But now we have a lot of work to do... we have a good plan and I think in time we'll turn things around."
Among those Dempsey beat out is Tully's much bigger Seattle neighbor, Starbucks Corp., which wanted to convert the cafes to its own brand.
Dempsey, whose company Global Baristas LLC plans to keep the Tully's name, declared victory on the social media site Twitter with the message: "We met the green monster, looked her in the eye, and...SHE BLINKED! We got it! Thank you Seattle!"
The win for Dempsey deals a rare setback for Starbucks on its home turf. Starbucks has long been both praised for bringing "coffeehouse culture" to the U.S. and criticized for crushing smaller chains. The coffee giant, which had planned to convert the Tully's cafes to its own brand, last month announced plans to expand its global footprint to 20,000 cafes over the next two years, up from the current 18,000.
Dempsey said in an interview on Friday that as the underdog in Seattle, Tully's will need to find its identity.
"It's a much smaller chain that has a lot of potential that hasn't been given the proper care," he said.
But in a statement shortly after the auction on Thursday, Starbucks insinuated that Dempsey shouldn't celebrate just yet.
Starbucks, which wanted to convert the Tully's cafes to its own brand, said that a final determination on the winning bid won't be made until a court hearing on Jan. 11. Starbucks said it's in a "back-up" position" to buy 25 of the 47 Tully's cafes, with another undisclosed bidder making an offer for the remainder.
The combined bids of Starbucks and the undisclosed bidder come to $10.6 million, above the $9.2 million Dempsey's company is offering to pay through his company, which was formed in order to purchase Tully's. The other investors in Global Baristas aren't being disclosed.
But Dempsey was confident the judge will allow him to buy the company.
"I do feel that we're going to get this company, certainly, and we're going to keep it intact, we're going to keep these jobs alive which is very important."
Watch: Dempsey visits a Tully's store in Seattle on Friday:
The announcement came after a day that Dempsey said was filled with the slow process of negotiations and featured several emotional swings.
"There were a lot of twists and turns during the day when we felt we were up, then it felt like we were losing it -- it was very emotionally draining, and of course the stakes were so high," Dempsey said. "We care very deeply about this company and we really want it and we want to turn it around, so you're dealing with all those emotions. Any time there is a bid that comes in, it's a lot to process, emotionally."
The star actor says he planned to be very involved in the running of the company, adding that the immediate challenges were to address bookkeeping issues, staff morale and sprucing up the coffee shops.
"Our employees need to have a morale boost, they need to feel confident," he said. "I need to get to know them and I need to get to know the communities and I need to spend a lot more time here. I really like it here, I like waking up and being in this town."
Once the business is stabilized, Dempsey said the long-term goal would be to take the chain national.
"We can pull this off. We just have to take steps that are slow and smart," he said. "I'm going to get behind the counter. I'm going to serve coffee...I'm going to give the company a boost of energy."
Seattle has a special place in Dempsey's career - "Grey's Anatomy" took place in a fictional hospital in the city. And although Dempsey lives in Los Angeles, he plans to spend more time in Seattle to where it will be like a second home to him.
"I have a very strong connection to Seattle," he said. "We talk about it on a daily basis and I see images on a daily basis when I go into the sound stage. I feel at home here, I grew up in a small town in Maine and it reminds me a lot of that so I like it a lot and it's a good excuse to spend more time here, honestly."
Dempsey said he believed there is room in the city for Tully's and the much larger Starbucks; he noted there might be people who are rooting for the underdog.
"In a society where there are so many big corporations that swallow the little guy, we thought, let's not let this happen to this company," he said.
Tully's Coffee, which has more than 500 employees and locations in Washington and California, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, citing lease obligations and underperforming stores. TC Global Inc., its parent company, said in a release Friday that it was "encouraged and excited" about Dempsey's commitment to the chain.
Tully's President and CEO Scott Pearson called the deal a "great match" and that the goal is to make sure creditors get paid and to keep as many people employed as possible.
Also in the running to buy Tully's was Baristas Coffee, which operates a chain of drive-thru espresso stands featuring female employees in skimpy outfits.
The actor, who was dubbed "McDreamy" by fans of the hospital drama while his co-star affectionately has been called "McSteamy," won a bankruptcy auction to buy Tully's Coffee, a small coffee chain based in Seattle.
"I'm very excited -- there's a lot of opportunity here for us and for the employees to keep this company intact," Dempsey said. "But now we have a lot of work to do... we have a good plan and I think in time we'll turn things around."
Among those Dempsey beat out is Tully's much bigger Seattle neighbor, Starbucks Corp., which wanted to convert the cafes to its own brand.
Dempsey, whose company Global Baristas LLC plans to keep the Tully's name, declared victory on the social media site Twitter with the message: "We met the green monster, looked her in the eye, and...SHE BLINKED! We got it! Thank you Seattle!"
The win for Dempsey deals a rare setback for Starbucks on its home turf. Starbucks has long been both praised for bringing "coffeehouse culture" to the U.S. and criticized for crushing smaller chains. The coffee giant, which had planned to convert the Tully's cafes to its own brand, last month announced plans to expand its global footprint to 20,000 cafes over the next two years, up from the current 18,000.
Dempsey said in an interview on Friday that as the underdog in Seattle, Tully's will need to find its identity.
"It's a much smaller chain that has a lot of potential that hasn't been given the proper care," he said.
But in a statement shortly after the auction on Thursday, Starbucks insinuated that Dempsey shouldn't celebrate just yet.
Starbucks, which wanted to convert the Tully's cafes to its own brand, said that a final determination on the winning bid won't be made until a court hearing on Jan. 11. Starbucks said it's in a "back-up" position" to buy 25 of the 47 Tully's cafes, with another undisclosed bidder making an offer for the remainder.
The combined bids of Starbucks and the undisclosed bidder come to $10.6 million, above the $9.2 million Dempsey's company is offering to pay through his company, which was formed in order to purchase Tully's. The other investors in Global Baristas aren't being disclosed.
But Dempsey was confident the judge will allow him to buy the company.
"I do feel that we're going to get this company, certainly, and we're going to keep it intact, we're going to keep these jobs alive which is very important."
Watch: Dempsey visits a Tully's store in Seattle on Friday:
The announcement came after a day that Dempsey said was filled with the slow process of negotiations and featured several emotional swings.
"There were a lot of twists and turns during the day when we felt we were up, then it felt like we were losing it -- it was very emotionally draining, and of course the stakes were so high," Dempsey said. "We care very deeply about this company and we really want it and we want to turn it around, so you're dealing with all those emotions. Any time there is a bid that comes in, it's a lot to process, emotionally."
The star actor says he planned to be very involved in the running of the company, adding that the immediate challenges were to address bookkeeping issues, staff morale and sprucing up the coffee shops.
"Our employees need to have a morale boost, they need to feel confident," he said. "I need to get to know them and I need to get to know the communities and I need to spend a lot more time here. I really like it here, I like waking up and being in this town."
Once the business is stabilized, Dempsey said the long-term goal would be to take the chain national.
"We can pull this off. We just have to take steps that are slow and smart," he said. "I'm going to get behind the counter. I'm going to serve coffee...I'm going to give the company a boost of energy."
Seattle has a special place in Dempsey's career - "Grey's Anatomy" took place in a fictional hospital in the city. And although Dempsey lives in Los Angeles, he plans to spend more time in Seattle to where it will be like a second home to him.
"I have a very strong connection to Seattle," he said. "We talk about it on a daily basis and I see images on a daily basis when I go into the sound stage. I feel at home here, I grew up in a small town in Maine and it reminds me a lot of that so I like it a lot and it's a good excuse to spend more time here, honestly."
Dempsey said he believed there is room in the city for Tully's and the much larger Starbucks; he noted there might be people who are rooting for the underdog.
"In a society where there are so many big corporations that swallow the little guy, we thought, let's not let this happen to this company," he said.
Tully's Coffee, which has more than 500 employees and locations in Washington and California, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, citing lease obligations and underperforming stores. TC Global Inc., its parent company, said in a release Friday that it was "encouraged and excited" about Dempsey's commitment to the chain.
Tully's President and CEO Scott Pearson called the deal a "great match" and that the goal is to make sure creditors get paid and to keep as many people employed as possible.
Also in the running to buy Tully's was Baristas Coffee, which operates a chain of drive-thru espresso stands featuring female employees in skimpy outfits.
It sounds like the âFat Ladyâ has not sung yet. The Judge needs to protect the creditors and share holders, while addressing the employees and the community in general. Most often the highest bidder will win out. It would not be easy to let a lower bid prevail. It may be that splitting it up will be a factor. It looks like we need to wait until the 11th to see.Â
He seems like a very nice, genuine person. Â I hope he wins. Â
Glad Starbucks didn't swallow this up and good that it sounds like people will continue to have jobs. I agree about developing the company and identity. People will have different opinions but to me it seemed that Tullys has been all medium roast as opposed to Starbucks mostly dark roast. I buy really dark roast coffee from Peets but I am still not a Starbucks fan as the customer experience really varies by shop and I don't like that they hired a lot of fast food execs in upper management and developed too much of a "fast food" template. But good luck to Tully's and let's see what they come up with. Don't over reach with wrongly timed or too much expansion. I would visit a good Tully's shop rather than be dissatisfied with 6 crummy Tully's shops within one block.
Geez Starbucks. Could you be any worse of an influence in Seattle??? LET IT GO! Â You are the Walmart of coffee now. What type of power hungry mentality do you have? Will you not rest until there is NO choice at all??? Â Sick.Â
Dempsey may want to start his campaign to save Tully's by not having his drink put in a double cup. Sleeves are much cheaper Patrick.
Go Tully's go ! I like your coffee better !!! Starbucks sucks big one !!!
Having a hero like Dempsey should boost morale! If they have good coffee, people trained to make good espresso, and fresh locally made pastries, they will have loyal clientele and Starbucks will lose customers to them. That's how a strong regular customer base can be secured and grown. I lived in Berkeley across the street from a local cafe--it is the standard against which I compare every cafe. Starbucks espresso tastes horrible. When I ask local barristas why that is, they say they over-roast their beans. I heard something hilarious--Alec Baldwin calls their pastries "prison cake" because they are awful too--like cake you might get in prison. Their pastries are chilled--yuck. It should be EASY for Tully's to provide superior coffee beverages and pastries--once a starbucks customer tastes a better product, they will convert. Thanks to Patrick for caring about Seattle and the employees and for saving these local jobs--what a truly nice person.
FucY######## Starbucks!!!!!!!!! Â Â Go Pat!!!!!!!
SO WEIRD! SORRY BUT I AM SCREAMING! Almost all comments in here are saying how bad Starbucks is, and none of you are drinking their coffee, so you are SO happy that Dempsey bought Tulley's! Cuz Tulleys is the best coffee you ever had! My Gawd, I knew this place was spawning idiots, but I did not know it was this bad! Do I need to say more?
 @WhatdidIsay? I'm sorry.. what are you trying to say?  I don't really understand your rant. Are you upset that people like Tully's coffee? Upset that they don't drink Starbucks anymore?  Your post doesn't actually convince me that everyone else is an idiot.  Just sayin'
@WhatdidIsay? I will even say that Tully's coffee is better then Starbucks, especially when it comes to the blended coffee drinks
Starbucks does not treat their people like they should and it is going to come back and bite them in the arse. Sweat shops always have a revolving door of employees going in and out. The word really gets around. I hope Tully's can make a go of it.
 @SEATTLITERON Part of the issue is that they follow this fast food template of making it almost impossible to get enough hours to live on (like full time hours) and changing the schedule every week.Â
 @SEATTLITERON Everyone can buy a Starbucks coffee, and apply for a job at any of their shops! What are they doing to get a bite in the a$$?
Tullly's roasts good coffee, but there are better roasts out there locally. I don't know where a Starbuck's-Lite fits in here. I always liked Tully's and went there whenever possible, but in a world split between local small roasters and the Borg I cannot see where they fit in.
Amen, Patrick! I'll convert to Tullyism from Starbucksism.Â
Doesn't Starbucks have enough locations in Puget Sound in the first place? I've had great coffee at Tully's in the past and hope to continue to do so in the future. Good Luck Patrick Dempsey!Â
I think it's absolutely fantastic that he wants to help the company, save some jobs and stopped Starbucks from taking over Tully's. I wish him luck but I do hope he has the experience and know how to make this all work or at least has people on his crew who do.
SB's is garbage. I worked at their distribution center as a temporary worker in Auburn about 3 years ago. They have a company called OHL running the distribution center (at that time SB was not involved with the warehouse, they just stored product there). I worked in this hell hole for about 4 months (I needed a job really bad)  People worked in this warehouse pulling orders for SB stores. I was not prepared to work 6 to 7 days a week, 12-15 hr shifts, and minimal breaks.(pre-holiday season) Starting work at 4 am and leaving at 6 pm was a joke- I am not exaggerating in regards to the hours and days.Â
I remember a bunch of people coming back from a 30 minute lunch to find OHL managers standing at the entrance of the warehouse, they read everybody the riot act because they were taking too long lunches. The funny part was, this warehouse was over 300,000 sq. feet and the punch clock and entrance were at opposite ends of the building, when clocking out for lunch the walk alone would cut into our lunches about 10 to 15 minutes. The last straw for me was when the management hired leads that were "military" and they would have them stand in the aisles, literally screaming and yelling at us while we were picking orders, it was unbelievable. I finally found another job and left. If SB's ever wondered why they had/have damaged products and good's it's because of how people are treated at their DC while OHL was running it. I vowed NEVER to drink SB's ever again after witnessing what I did and it's been 3 years. Its apparent SB's is fine with contract companies that pick their orders and treat people like slaves. I am grateful I found another job. And the coffee is not that good, bleh.
Â
 @rightandexact that's like Amazon and their contracted warehouse companies, and the workers that were dropping because of extreme heat. So Amazon' hired paramedics to wait for people to drop, then blamed the contractors.  Or the horrible deadly fire in Bangladesh, that killed 112 young women making clothes for many US retailers... was blamed on "contractors"
 @rightandexact Dude, You speak the Gospel, if people only knew how Starbucks treated  their peeps......
I'm curious - how many complaints did you file with Labor & Industries regarding your experiences, and what were the outcomes of your grievances?
 @Throbbinhood I filed two emails with them and never heard a thing back. Its Washington State they just get paid to be there but not do their job. Sorry to sound so cynical. The past is the past but it still bugs me to this day...I think about other people who work in similar conditions and it makes me ill.
 @rightandexact I have learned that although email is the preferred method of of communication these days, it truly is not the way to go about handling an issue or complaint with any company. I suggest writing an actual letter and sending it signature required or something like that. Not only to the OHL company but also to Starbucks headquarters, newspaper(although I am not one to contact the newspaper due to their unprofessionalism these days) and the L&I. Emails get lost, snail mail is still good for some things. I know you said it's in the past but it's still bothering you. I ask you to start up the process again and follow through now. Just think of the people that are having to deal with it now and won't quit because they NEEEED the money. Please take WhatdidIsay's offer and contact them(let's hope he/she isn't a crazy and making stuff up.lol). It's never to late to bring light to these types of business practices. Good Luck and Happy New Year!
 @rightandexact  @Throbbinhood I work at L&I, and would like to look into your case, can you PM with case number and more information?
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PD thank you for saving Tulley's best of luck, I know I will still get my coffee there! =)
Heard that Dempsey likes to buy small businesses to save them. No, he is not a phony who will buy something just to look like Superman only to dump it later down the road. He's a real, genuine, great guy!
Â
@Patrick: Welcome to Seattle!
I certainly hope this isn't just a feel good/do good act for him and that he doesn't get bored and sell it 5 years from now. Celebrities don't seem to understand the concept of long-term commitments.
Another liberal saving the country....
Â
 @Butter Nothing wrong with someone doing something positive, is there? Who cares what their politics are?
He feels a strong connection to Seattle because he talked about it and saw images of it daily on the set? I wish him all the luck!
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 @Bubba Gunners If you read the article, you will see that he owns a company called Global Baristas LLC. This isn't his first experience.
Am I the only one who doesn't like Starbucks coffee?? I don't like how it tastes. I hadn't been inside one in a long time because of that and then at Christmas I went to buy someone ONE drink-a vanilla latte....and it was $4.80! That is with nothing extra and no whip cream or anything. I hope Tully's has better tasting coffee and lower prices than that...I definitely will check it out.
 @nomad You are not the only one.  I went in there to get Christmas blend for my parents  (I grew up in the only town on planet earth with no Starbucks apparently) and it was $16 a pound!  For average coffee!  I nearly choked.
 @nomad I stopped drinking *$$ when Howard Schultz decided he wouldn't allow the outlets to stock Almond flavoring. Fortunately, Tully's does make a pretty good almond latte, so that's why I go to Tully's exclusively.
 @Glassman I admit I am too lazy right now to look it up but why did they forbid almond flavoring? I dislike Starbucks coffee very much but unfortunately I am a java chip frappacino junkie. However those have been tasting off the past month or so and the last 3 I have received don't taste like there is any java at all in it. I am slowly kicking my habit because I hate giving them my money. 95% of the employees have always been very nice though. I have to say though that I rarely frequented Starbucks when I lived in Wa because there are so many other great little coffee stands all around, but since we moved to SC 2 years ago, the only coffee shops around is Starbucks. I can't wait to get back to Wa this summer to get some real coffee at the stand my daughter has been working at almost 3 years now. She makes the best coffee creations around.
 @nomad No, you are not the only one who doesn't like Startbucks coffee.Â
It is kind of funney. Patrick Dempsey played a coffee shop owner in a movie filmed in Seattle and the San Juans. It was a tv movie called "Lucky 7"
Oh goodie. Sorry guys, I'm a Starbucks snob but I am excited for all of you who love Tullys. That is very good news :)
 @cm257n7 Lol. That's like admitting you're a Walmart snob.Â
 @cm257n7 I used to be a Starbucks snob..... until they screwed me over. Now I go someplace else. Funny thing is the place I go to has a LOT more flavors, better reward system, and the people behind the till are pretty nice. It actually gets quite busy. I really hope Starbucks does NOT win this acquisition. I can't see that as being good for anyone. Starbucks lies like you would not believe. They said they try to help people with jobs. They don't.
I will make a point to visit Tully's instead of Starbucks next time. Thanks for supporting Seattle, McDreamy! Going to check if they have K cups available.
@SoTweetie Tulle'y does make a k-cup in both House blend anad itailian. Both very good!!
Thank God someone other than the Howard Schultz's of the area managed to get it...we don't need more Starbucks. We do need competition and better coffee...   : - )
I'm one of those throwbacks who is still making and enjoying my morning coffee at home. Â
Â
Starbucks has entered the market of offering home equipment for brewing their coffee. Â Maybe they are on to something, Â Â
Congrats to Tully's and Patrick Dempsey. Â That's money well spent...Â
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@deadcandance Is he as cute in person?
 @The WA Mama  @deadcandance double it, he would make you cumin a minute
GREAT! I am so happy for Tully's. I always get excellent service at Tully's; the employees are either well trained or just great people (probably both). There has never been a time where I felt not wanted at Tully's. I do like and go to Starbucks as well, but feel there is just a little more personal touch at Tully's.
Great work, Doc!
My wife and I LOVE Tullys, even if I have to drive 65 miles from Burlington, passing 50 other coffee places in the process, to get it in Woodinville!!!!! And I don't even watch Grey's Anatomy!!
 @Throbbinhood There's a little Tully's inside the Albertson's on 4th St. in Marysville. They're great!  =)