Starbucks opens first store in national park despite opposition

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Starbucks opened its first store in a U.S. national park, despite facing over 25,000 signatures against it online so far.

As part of the remodeled base camp eatery at the Yosemite Valley Lodge, Starbucks opened its store in the Yosemite National Park, California, the first of this kind in a national park.

On change.org, where people cast their vote for a change, the petition of "Stop Starbucks in Yosemite" has drawn 25,407 signatures so far.

"Multinational corporations have no place in our National Parks," Concerned Citizen, who started the petition, wrote.

"The Park will lose its essence, making it hardly distinguishable from a chaotic and bustling commercial city," Concerned Citizen added.

However, Starbucks called it a "hidden gem" in the Yosemite National Park in a news release, touting the company's "commitment to pioneering green building."

That petition to halt its opening died a quiet death on March 16, when the coffee giant began operating in the national park.

Yosemite National Park is a U.S national park lying in west California. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, lakes, and biological diversity, attracting about 4 million visitors annually. Enditem