Anger brewing in Newton Center

By Bennett Gavrish

Denis Goodwin is no longer so perky in the morning.

Goodwin, a website tester from Newton Center, used to be a regular customer at the Union Street Starbucks, enjoying its cozy atmosphere next to the train tracks.

“The space itself was great,” he said. “It was open and spacious. Where else could I bring three kids for an hour or two and have everyone enjoy themselves? You can’t put a price on train-watching either.”

In July, Starbucks announced it would close 600 locations in the United States, including seven in Massachusetts. Despite protests from local residents, the 17-year-old Starbucks built inside the Newton Center Train Station closed last week.

“When I heard that Starbucks was thinking of closing it, I thought it was a shame,” said Chuck Tanowitz, a West Newton resident. “It was a great, homey space and probably one of the most unique coffee bars in Newton.”

The location attracted many commuters because it was above the Newton Center T stop on the Green Line.

Starbucks officials would not comment on individual closings, but Austin Myerson, a company marketing manager, said in an e-mail that about 20 full and part-time positions will be eliminated with each closure.

“I was very disappointed with Starbucks,” Goodwin said. “I now look at them as just another chain that’s bad for the country in the long run.”

But other coffee lovers said they understand the decision, especially because of the economic crisis.

“People are less likely to want to spend that much on coffee, so it makes sense that Starbucks is eliminating locations,” said Kristine Munroe-Mahoney, a writer from West Newton. “But I’m not sure why they opted to close down this location as opposed to other ones which are just like every other Starbucks in the world.”

Goodwin gathered about 400 signatures for a petition to save the Union Street Starbucks. He blames the company’s senior management and insists he will boycott all Starbucks products in the future.

Starbucks officials said they are working with the targeted stores to prepare employees for the closings.

“As closure dates are decided, our priority will be to work with impacted store partners to try and identify opportunities in nearby store locations or elsewhere within the company,” Myerson said in the e-mail.

The Boston Development Group, which owns the lease on the building at 70 Union St., would not comment on plans to replace the Starbucks franchise. Goodwin said he has heard an independent coffee shop may be moving in.

“My fear all along was that the space would either remain vacant in a bad economy or that the usual Newton Center real estate thing would happen and a bank or a salon would come in,” Goodwin said. “So I remain hopeful that the independent coffee shop plan will happen.”