Can Seattle ideas succeed in Manhattan?

Starbucks has taken its business model (expensive good coffee) and exported this concept to every major city around the world. I was just in London and didn't have to walk far to find a Starbucks (namely 300 feet). There are other Seattle businesses such as Glassybaby that have not enjoyed equal success in "exporting" to other cities. This article offers some insights about the challenges of trying to play in the "big leagues".

This article interested me because of its relevance to the broad topic of urban real estate. It is important to ask who might demand such real estate and what profits can they earn from leasing it.