Starbucks Closing 600 Stores - Whatever Shall We Do?
I love Starbucks as much as the next caffeine addict, but really, let’s face it, closing 600 stores nationwide won’t affect most people simply because there are approximately um, I don’t know, like 5 BILLION Starbucks in the world. Think about it. My local Target has a Starbucks, and then there’s the Starbucks in our town market area, and then the drive-thru down the road, and the one the next town over and so on. And I live in a fairly rural area, so imagine major metropolises.
When we were in Vegas last November, I counted like ten Starbucks locations in a 1-mile radius. Seriously, I am not kidding you. Urban sprawl and overindulgent excess are to blame. They charge $5 bucks for a caffeinated beverage and I am supposed to feel bad for Starbucks? I feel sorry for the employees who will lose their job, but then again, if Starbucks wasn’t so greedy, and grown only to fit the needs of community, not their corporate wallets, then this would not be happening.
Want to feel sorry for someone? Feel sorry for the factory workers in this country who’ve continued to watch their jobs disappear as we export so many jobs out of the country so we can buy our crappy, cheap trinkets from overseas. Why yes, I am guilty too. But that doesn’t mean I am not fed up.
Crazy gas prices, crazy cults, crazy flooding, crazy ass movie stars calling press conferences about their twins births? WTF? End of times people, we are seeing it.
I wonder if Tom Cruise has any room left in that bunker he’s building?
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There are other reasons to close a store besides low profit margin. Hefty tax write off for Starbucks.
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — July 2, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
That is true that when there are too many Starbucks in a small radius it will have no impact. But for the stores that are spread out enough that it is not worth wasting your gas for that’s a different story. My Starbucks is 2 miles away. If my store closes the closest Starbucks is then 6 miles away. If my Starbucks closes the next decent place to get a up of Joe is 7-11, which they do have good coffee but to tell you the truth the smell of those hot dogs just about makes me sick and I do like having a place to sit down and meet friends. My hope is that they close down the stores where the Starbucks are within walking distance like on Montana Street in Santa Monica you can visit three stores in less than 5 minutes.
Comment by Pam — July 2, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
on another note I had the terrible misfortune of watching some show on the new “green” network starring the guy from Entourage and his silly co-hosts- hot chick and doofus. It’s great that these people are supporting sustainabilty but GOD are they OUT OF TOUCH
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — July 2, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
I hope the Starbucks near the Church of Scientology in Clearwater downtown will not close.
The coffee there is very good.
Scientologist.
Comment by Frank G — July 2, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
I really hope they don’t close mine. I waited forever to get one!
The closest one to me is a six-mile drive to the next town. After that, it’s another half-hour drive to the north or east to find one, and they are in major cities. Go south or west and you have to practically go to the next state to find one. And there aren’t any substitute coffee stores.
I did learn how to make strong coffee, put it in the fridge, and drink it iced with some creamer and sweetner. But it’s nice to go be served coffee…it’s like, I know how to cook supper, but sometimes it’s nice to go be served supper at a restaurant. Maybe it’s just me, but I look at it as a treat, since I don’t get to go but maybe once every couple of weeks. It’s nice, too, to have a quiet place to meet (when the teenagers aren’t there, that is) and use the WiFi. It’s all about atmosphere, I realize that. And since I go to the next town quite often (it’s where everything is…my tiny little town is lucky to have a flashing light), it’s not like I’m going out of my way.
But you’re right…greed is why you can go to some major cities and find a ‘bucks on every corner and in every major store. Heaven forbid you should have to drive six miles!
Comment by k — July 2, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
It’s about time!! I do not like coffee and do not care for Starbucks either
Comment by Jx2 — July 2, 2008 @ 2:49 pm