Starbucks Releases US Store Closure List

[launderess]

For those that just have to have their coffee, and or just go to see and be seen, Starbucks has released the listing of stores they are closing in the United States.

Several weeks ago the company announced it would be closing stores and making other changes after posting large losses and it's shares going down.

http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/USStoreClosureInfo.pdf

 

[toggleswitch2]

Bitter is aisle #1

How much for a coffee? oh PUH-LEEZE, honey!

Tried it, hated it, ignored it.

A sign of the times and the economy, perhaps.

 

[frigilux]

I make my own latte-or-cappuccino-to-go each morning. Every Starbucks on the planet could close and I wouldn't notice.

Granted, it does take a bit of time and effort; But it tastes great and, even with the cost of my restaurant supply store-purchased to-go cups, it's still far under $1 per serving.

On a lark, I decided to time the process, which included
1) grinding beans (Starbucks Morning Blend is the choice of the day)
2) making 2 double shots of coffee
3) steaming the milk
4) rinsing/towel-drying the parts

It took 9:42--and I kept a very leisurely pace throughout the process.

If you prefer drip coffee in a standard coffee maker, and can do other things while it brews, the time involved is certainly far less.

What does a large latte cost at Starbucks?

 

[jaxsunst]

My Tassimo is good enough for me.

But, my wife is a total addict, and they are closing the one next to my house.

 

[7080swashertalk]

Oh, to bad.

how smug. over 7100 "stores"

I agree with Steve.
It's like tar in a cup.
and caffeine is a drug. an upper to be more accurate.

I like how they put the whip creme and SPRINKLES on top to hide the foulness of this ... what.... "beverage" . yuck.

But hey, for those without a proper diet,
caffeine provides that rush so you can go to work selling real estate so you can pay for your SUV and plastic surgery. Add to that the mortgage on an overpriced tract house, a plasma tv and, bronzing. lol

I LOVE watching the republican lifestyle falling apart. hehe

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/06/30/daily17.html

 

[foraloysius]

On my trips to the USA I enjoyed many coffees at Starbucks. I's sorry the company is doing not well. Making your own coffee is good but as a tourist it's great to have a place to sit down for a while and enjoy a cup of coffee. My favourite one was on Greenwich Avenue on Manhattan. Leather chairs to relax in!

 

[frigilux]

Our economic model depends on continuous growth, which always leads to slash-and-burn downsizing in the end. Eventually, too many stores are opened, they can't make it, and then the FOR RENT signs go up.

Too bad we can't allow businesses to find a comfortable market share, then focus on keeping those stores healthy. Unfortunately, Wall Street and investors hate businesses that aren't constantly expanding...

 

[panthera]

Now, now, Erik

You'll soon have the nasty queens after you, too. Never mind, they've got enough nasty for both of us. Oh, well, you're welcome to share my mast when they give us a flaming bon-voyage.
I could care less about the young-dynamic-managers at Starbucks, but they gave pretty decent jobs to a lot of people who would otherwise not had one; and these closings are bad for that reason.
Out here, the choice is between brown dishwater severed luke-warm or a pretty decent cup of coffee at Starbucks. Me, I'll miss them. Besides, it was fun to watch the yuppies posing.

 

[7080swashertalk]

Things need to change in this country that is for sure.

Corporations considered human with infinite life?
Thats a NO. That needs to change.
Wee need corporations, business, and the wealthy un-special interests OUT of our government. At this point these UNSPECIAL interests are the ones getting attention in our government.
These groups belong at the BOTTOM of the heap, not the top.

Government is here to protect society for EVERYONE, not a few un-special interests, as it is now.

600 stores closing? can you picture 600 stores?
600
Add this to the recently closed CompUSA's, Gander Mountains, Chi-Chis(most of which are still sitting empty and they were good) and how many other retail locations that have or will be closing with this recession. And it is more than just the recession.

People are shopping On-line much more. and why not? You would be a fool to open a brick and mortor store when you can get so much more exposure on line.
If you are in Commercial Real Estate, your screwed.
And the scale, the crap they have built in the last 8 years is just rediculous.

I am going to do a vlog with pictures of all the vacant commercial spaces just within 2 to 3 miles of where I live.
It is amazing when you add all the vacant square footage. And they are still building crap. So you know things in Commercial RE is only going to get worse.

http://sacrealstats.blogspot.com/2008/07/retail-reductions.html

 

[7080swashertalk]

LOL Keven,

You get an A+ for compassion.

and

"Besides, it was fun to watch the yuppies posing."
you make a interesting point.

but

at least Krispy Kreme has something edible along with their ridiculous business plan. stand alone buildings.
for fattening pastry.
What were they thinking?

 

[rp2813]

I am disappointed that a recently arrived Starbucks on Washington St. in Santa Clara, CA isn't on the list. That one backs up commute traffic as people try to parallel park in front and when they carelessly fling their doors open into traffic. It was truly annoying on my morning drive to work and I'd routinely get into the next lane to avoid the back-up.

Well, Starbucks in and of itself is an annoying phenomenon. I prefer to patronize independent roasters or Peets, a Berkeley-based company that was roasting coffee decades before anybody ever thought of opening a Starbucks.

 

[j2400]

The thing that gets me is that a nearby town has two Starbucks located practically on opposite sides of the street. Yet, neither is on the list of Starbucks To Close.

I almost never go near Starbucks. I'm too cheap. Then, I think I view them as being almost like McDonalds--they are everywhere, and all pretty much the same.

The only coffee shops I actually like are the small ones. One with one location, or, at most, a handful of locations. But that style is so unAmerican. We have to have chains, stores all the same, coast to coast, to handle all our needs. Otherwise, we'd collapse in total anarchy.

 

[westtexman]

"Republican Lifestyle?"

It's funny how even coffee shop closures can now be blamed on one man and/or his political party. I suppose in a few months we'll be reading a book on the NY Times Best Seller list by the current Starbucks CEO called "Coffee - How 'W'
Single-Handedly Caused the Demise of an American Institution".

From what I can tell, it sounds like what's caused Starbuck's problem is growing too big, too fast. Sounds like greedy executives and stakeholders thought the "if you build it - they will come" philosophy of business was a formula for success. Hard to see how this company's irresbonsibility should be blamed on Republicans, who seem to be quite keen on supporting businesses - not destroying them.

In the past two years, Starbucks has built 3 new stores in our city of 210,000 people. Strange thing is that two of these stores are literally across the street from each other. One was built inside a new Target, and then another free-standing store was built across the street! Oddly enough - neither of these stores is on the list of closures.

I'm not much into politics, but as a business owner I'm quite leary of this upcoming election. I don't care much for either candidate, and so I will be voting for the "lesser of two evils", so-to-speak. I can tell you I certainly won't be voting for Obama. Increasing government spending on social programs to support people who don't want to get out and work is not my idea of how to stimulate the economy. National Healthcare scares the crap out of me too. It will certainly take a major tax increase to fund that monstrosity, which means that hard-working middle class folks like myself will end up footing the bill (and I'm taxed enough as it is already). In order to make up the difference, I will probably be forced to cancel the health insurance I provide for myself and my employees just to be able to keep up with the tax increases.

So, in 4 - 6 years when we finally start seeing "National Healthcare" take form, you will have so many uninsured people that it will literally break the system, because people who actually give a crap and provide health insurance for their employees will have had to give up their health insurance just to support "bigger government".

Just my two cents . . .

 

[launderess]

Starbucks, like Duane Read, Rite Aid, and countless other chain stores grew by killing off small independent shops. Small shops do not have the deep pockets for paying rent in prime real estate areas, nor can they afford to have persons sitting for hours at a table after ordering only one cup of coffee. Even in Paris and other parts of Europe where coffee cafe society was founded, you will be gently asked now a days to either order something else after an hour or so, or push off and make room for other paying customers.

Starbucks also dropped lots of the things which in the beginning made them unique. Shops no longer roasted beans on site, high counters stopped customers from seeing the baristas and such doing the drama that fine coffee lovers appreciate; in short Starbucks became sort of the "MacDonalds" of coffee. Well now that MacDonalds and other fast food places sell very good coffee indeed, and at lower prices than Starbucks, there isn't anything to hold customers.

 

[jeffg]

I'd have no problem with Starbucks, if their coffee didn't smell and taste like pine tar.

And Bryan, McCain needs your vote. He's the weakest Republican candidate for president since Barry Goldwater in 1964, and by all accounts his margin of defeat will be even larger than Goldwater's. America's middle class -- what's left of it -- and poor have been bashed and squeezed enough the last eight years.

 

[maytagbear]

I wish the Starbucks here in Kent

would close. Oh, they deserve to close.

They colluded with the city to kick out a long-standing (over 50 yrs) locally owned-run coffeeshop restaurant.

There are two independents left in Kent, Susans Coffee and Tea, and Anthony's Koffee and Kakes. I prefer Susans coffee, and Anthony serves a nice lunch. True locals never go to Starbucks on a regular basis. We leave it mostly to the college kids, visiting tourists, and others who know no better.
The only advantage is that Starbucks is open more hours. Only. Both Susans and Anthony have free Wifi

Incidentally, the iced coffee at McDonalds is very good.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[7080swashertalk]

"It's funny how even coffee shop closures can now be blamed on one man and/or his political party. "
pretty much, YEAH

Bryan, (shaking head)
Unless you are worth at least 10 million dollars or have substantial stock holding in a large corporation, you are not a republican by todays definition.

Republicans are corrupt, hypocritical, election fixing, war mongering, fiscally irresponsible, socially and environmentally degredating, Greed based slime. Money is what they live for.
That is it.

"Sounds like greedy executives and stakeholders "
yep, you got it.

"I will probably be forced to cancel the health insurance.."
See, if you were a true republican, you would have found a way to weasel out of paying for that health coverage.

"National Healthcare scares the crap out of me"
why? It would mean people like you wouldn't have to worry about paying health care expenses.

"It will certainly take a major tax increase to fund that monstrosity, which means that hard-working middle class folks like myself will end up footing the bill"
Tax increases are Going to happen.
What makes you think that people like YOU will be paying?

Did rush (lard-ass limbaugh say that)?
It is the top 5% of income earners and LARGE business that have been getting away with Tax cheating in MAJOR ways.
THEY are who will be forced to start paying their fair share in taxes.
And you know what even if their tax rates were increased to 50% (which is where they should be) THey would still be far richer than any of us here.
Taxes on people like you will most like drop under Obama.

"literally break the system"
the system is already broken Bryan. 8 years ago Bill and Hillary left office with a budget SURPLUS.
Do you know How much DEBT our country owes now +++++++++?

republicans WANT to break the system because they believe in corporations and Money ONLY. They would like to see our government totally collapse so that a corporation can take over. MONEY. look at FEMA, look at the Justice Dept, under bush jr., look at what they have tried to do to our country.

There is more to life than money. MUCH MORE.

"I'm not much into politics"
Bryan, you don't have to be an expert. Just use some common sense.
We live right NOW in a country without the "Fairness Doctrine"
If republicans have nothing to hide, they wouldn't be so afraid of this.
What does it mean. With 90% of our nations media owned by biased republicans, well... what do you hear on TV and radio.

Catch some Air America on XMradio or online. Get some HuffingtonPost.com, some Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes.
these are people. Real people. Intelligent. Concerned about ALL of life.
Not just money.
I don't know what you do Bryan, but if you think that bookstores, coffee shops, grocery stores, and the like that have disappeared from your neighborhood mysteriously after the Walmart was built. Think of what will happen to your business when the next big, out of control conglomorate moves in with unlimit marketing budgets and money to corrupt public officials. They won't care how you voted.

Of course, you might be able to sell out. Become one of "them". maybe.

It is interesting how republicans have tried to convince the innocent public to go along with their corruption by in deed corrupting the public. By selling on irrational ideas. By removing the public protections and allowing behavior like mortgage fraud. A few years ago anyone, so long as they had a pulse could get a mortgage, with no money, no income, and no proof of who they were.

Now we have a national mortgage and housing crisis that is spreading to Commercial Real Estate as well. It is HUGE. Think of all the people that have created fraud in order to get a larger house they can't afford while at the same time living check to pay check. Sad.

Government protects us from Fraud...
.. when it is being run efficiently.
When the Criminals(george bush jr. and Company), have infiltrated our government, the justice department, and black mailed congress people, tapped phones illegally to get information to black mail, and other highly illegal and morally reprehensible behaviour, yeah government is doomed. And we as a society are in big trouble until things are corrected.

""lesser of two evils", mccane
lol, Just NO.
mccane is so unqualified and admitted that he will continue the current policies.
The republican media has so blatantly ignored and covered mccane wrinkled ass so many times. he has lied and reversed position so many times it likes watching a pancake on a griddle.

check out OBAMA. do yourself a favor.
barackobama.com

In the mean time what type republican are you.

 

[7080swashertalk]

excellent of republican thinking
disgusting.

 

[~sudsshane]

McCain the weakest candidate for President since Goldwater?

Oh really Jeff?...Tell that to the many many Hillary Clinton supporters (myself included) who WILL NOT vote for Barack Obama. I guarantee you, there are many of us..

If you look at just about every national poll, McCain and Obama are running even. (within the margin of error). Obama once again proves he can't close the deal.
This should be a Democratic year, but leave it to the Democratic Party to nominate the weaker of the two candidates.
I wonder what everyone now thinks who said Obama is a different kind of politician. What a joke..Obama has now proven himself to be every bit of a "typical" politician. Face it, he is NO Different.

and...back to your comment about John McCain being the weakest GOP candidate since Goldwater.

Well, I predict Obama will be very much compared to McGovern in the 1972 campaign, if he isn't already.

McCain for America '08