- Oct 28, 1999
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http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/People_Johnson.html;COXnetJSessionID=BJoLydCL1XItyYz1wAfp1Avi1HFVdzY7bxX6RNM41OxVkWDrLaiG!-1960222907?urac=n&urvf=10911520751520.8068270807156379
COMPTON, Calif. ? Earvin "Magic" Johnson is heating things up in Compton.
The basketball phenomenon and businessman was on hand Saturday for the official opening of the city's first Starbucks. The Seattle-based coffee chain and Johnson Development Corp. have opened 68 coffee shops in ethnically diverse neighborhoods since 1998.
Johnson has gone on to become an entrepreneur, political activist and part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers since retiring from basketball more than a decade ago.
Mayor Eric Perrodin said the Starbucks "was like a stamp of approval for the city of Compton" and is symbolic of a new and prosperous time.
Johnson agreed.
"There's something good happening in the city," the former Lakers' star said.
The sentiment is good news for the residents of this Los Angeles suburb whose image has been tarnished in recent years by a political corruption scandal, a financially troubled community college, and a school district that was under state control for several years because of low test scores and other problems.
Eleanor Stewart, a lifelong Compton resident, was pleased with the new addition to the neighborhood.
"I was even bragging about this to my relatives back East," she said.
COMPTON, Calif. ? Earvin "Magic" Johnson is heating things up in Compton.
The basketball phenomenon and businessman was on hand Saturday for the official opening of the city's first Starbucks. The Seattle-based coffee chain and Johnson Development Corp. have opened 68 coffee shops in ethnically diverse neighborhoods since 1998.
Johnson has gone on to become an entrepreneur, political activist and part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers since retiring from basketball more than a decade ago.
Mayor Eric Perrodin said the Starbucks "was like a stamp of approval for the city of Compton" and is symbolic of a new and prosperous time.
Johnson agreed.
"There's something good happening in the city," the former Lakers' star said.
The sentiment is good news for the residents of this Los Angeles suburb whose image has been tarnished in recent years by a political corruption scandal, a financially troubled community college, and a school district that was under state control for several years because of low test scores and other problems.
Eleanor Stewart, a lifelong Compton resident, was pleased with the new addition to the neighborhood.
"I was even bragging about this to my relatives back East," she said.
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