Is Starbucks Passé?
 

Closing 600 (underperforming) stores!

I guess so, with a shop every other block, can't compete against itself.

The economy is down, and first to go are the non-essential expenses.

Similar news is coming from all kinds of retail - I heard a huge list including rock-solid mall stores such as Ann Taylor and Foot Locker were shuttering stores because they had grown way too quickly in the good times and now had to cut back to deal with the bad. I'm reminded of selling a few of my little green homes while playing Monopoly because I grew too fast.

Oh, and Starbucks has officially beyond peaked, I think.

TeeHee, the Disney Stores of the early 21st century!

If they're doing it before they become a problem, then it's just smart business. Planning ahead, and all that.

OTOH... Peet's seems to be growing :)

When you have a stand alone Starbucks in the same center with a Starbucks in the grocery store and a Detrichs in the Sports Chalet all in a center located less than a half mile from another Starbucks....

Not surprised at all.

Half a mile? Half a BLOCK, more like.

I've never been that hot on Starbucks - I used to stop in more often because it's the only coffee by work. I'd generally prefer an indie company. But nobody's been getting my business, because between watching wallet and calories, it's not how I'd choose to spend what I'm allotting myself.

I know Ive cut out a slew of the SB trips I used to make. that latte' effect, where $4.35 over the course of a week/month/year....blah blah adds up to a gazillion dollars I could find better use for. figure better saved for another (partial) gallon of gas

Only 600? Will anyone even notice?

I love Starbucks and I don't see it going anywhere. So long as man desires a good cup of coffee, Starbucks will be there.

I love Pete's, too, though nobody can make a better soy latte than SB. Nobody. Not me. And not you.

On the other hand, Pete's is good for iced coffee 'cause they make it fresh. And its strong, too. Real strong. Stronger than me. Stronger than you. Wanna fight about it I am right here.

Hmmph. That's what I thought.

Starbucks is for panty waists.
Real men hit the counter at Denny's in the wee small hours.

Remember Ships?
Ben Frank's?
Sambo's?

I'm telling ya, while it is no Peets, McDonalds makes a good cup of joe!

Our young friend is correct, McDonalds coffee is good. Real good.

Though not their iced coffees -- those suck.

I'm not a fan of iced coffee, but I have been told otherwise by some. YMMV


BTW: Tref's post above is post number 222222

Sweet Caroline, I did it! My work has come its fruition and it is good. I think I am going to treat myself to something nice -- like an iced coffee from McDonalds, though I hear from the grapevine they're not too good.

What's odd is that the 600 stores that are closing are all within a 1 mile radius of each other. It's just an experiment to see what will happen.

Starbucks is a coffee place, not a trend - at least to me.

It'll be good to know if reducing density by 8% in that mile drops revenue significantly.

I used to love Denny's coffee, especially when studying for a test or after a night of partying. Then they changed suppliers and it started tasting kind of like everyone else's.:( (My roommate worked there and often 'borrowed' packets of it for home consumption).

I associate that coffee with the "lost" art of conversation.

Many of us on this board spent a LOT of time in coffee shops, having this exact same neverending conversation...about everything and nothing.

Truth be told, it was a lot like this board, except with free refills.

I just do not like coffee of any kind, from anywhere, at all. Tea is for me.

But I do love talking about everything and nothing.

Peet's anyone?

I don't think Peet's is feeling the crunch at the same level as Starbucks. Peet's didn't open 3 stores within a half mile of each other.

Starbucks is kinda like the ABC stores in Waikiki. Always By the Corner.

Peet's has 1 store in Long Beach as opposed to about half a million Starbucks. However, if they close any Starbucks drive-thrus, I'll be disappointed. With Thurston in tow, that's sometimes the only way for me to get a good cup of joe.

So? When do we start getting free refills on LoT?

Hehehe!! Love it. I appreciate conversation.

I occasionally like coffee. I just don't much like Starbucks. Tastes burned and they brew it waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too strong for my taste. I'm told I'm not a true coffee drinker. Whatever.

I feel bad for the people losing jobs. But I have a hard time feeling bad for a huge corporation that charges people $3.40 for a cup of coffee.

Actually, plain ol' coffee isn't nearly that expensive, just those fancy drinks that everyone but me seems to enjoy. :)

And yeah, Peets is far better at making a regular cup of coffee. Don't know about their fancy drinks though, never felt the urge to have one. :)

Hey, just dip your cup into the font of hedons - there are refills aplenty here

Hedons - I don't think they have any stores over here yet.

Peet's makes wonderful fancy drinks. Gimme a vanilla freddo over a cafe vanilla frappuccino any day.

Starbucks is good.

Peet's is exquisite.

it's a unit of pleasure - so to speak

Well then, I'll have a double hedon vanilla latte with one sugar and two Splendas, barista!

Amen!

Hey, Starbucks just came to my neck of the woods last year. I love Starbucks. I can almost summon the power to pretend that the nearby Kraft Singles factory is a lesbian goat cheese collective and that life here is interesting.

If Peet's wants to come, too, I'd bring them a casserole when they moved in.

I don't like coffee so I don't really care. But I do love the Frapuchinos. I have tried imitations at a number of other coffee places and as much as I would love to support the small local shop, none of them come close in terms of tastiness, to me.

Is it near you?

Not near me.

None near me either. There will still be 4 within a 2 mile radius.

Dark mocha frappuccino. Mmmmm.

Is it safe?

Safe is a relative term

unrelated but.....eh, I needed somewhere to post it.

:evil:

The 600

Looks like both stores in older Tustin are closing.

Well, mom, it's been nice.

well effin eff. they just opened that one! (doesnt really matter which) it was perfectly placed for me on the way to work.


eff

:(

Whew. I still have about 10 to choose from on my way to work. And there are still be 4 within a 2 mile radius. Or maybe 3 now.