There is always room for one more coffee shop in the busy South Great George's Street area which now has no end of eateries and footfall as a result.

But Starbucks has found it impossible to crack, after dealings with the formidable Dunnes Stores boss Margaret Heffernan came to naught. Doctor Heffernan couldn't wait to sign over one of the five shops under her new HQ to the American coffee giant, and even schlepped across to the US to admire their operation. The deal was moving along nicely and the contract was with the lawyers, but lo and behold Margaret changed her mind when Starbucks said they wanted to take an upper floor as well as the small shopfront at street level. Not appreciating the public's appetite for lounging around in a comfortable armchair with a skinny latte, the Dunnes boss was having none of it.

Feeling that the supermarket operation might need the space at some stage in the future she pulled out of the deal at the 11th hour, even though planning permission had been granted. No doubt there will be lots of other shop owners in the area gagging to take in the Americans. Despite falling sales in the US, Starbucks is still a major draw for a street, or a corner.

Starbucks is not the only one smarting over Margaret's change of heart. Her own HQ staff, along with several hundred Revenue officials who share the Dunnes HQ, were also displeased to see frappucinos receding in the distance, since there is no staff café in the otherwise excellent building.