Starbucks Coffee to Close 600 Shops

[Jdm7399]

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/media?id=6240137

OK, now you guys know I rarely post Off Topic News, but I just wanted to see what you guys think about Starbucks closing down roughly about 600 shops.

Any Starbucks Coffee drinkers? Employees?

Over here in S.F., they're literally everywhere! Some even opened 24 hours. This may affect one of my Best Bud's Sister, as she's a Manager at a Starbucks.

I wish all the employees the best.

Starbucks will always make a damn good Macha Green Tea Soy Milk and Caramel Frap.;)

[APX]

Not really a big fan of coffee shops since it's pretty much turned into a fad/trend to be spotted in one of those. But I guess it does suck for those people to lose a job.

[master_shake_350]

Well that sucks.

[reddragon6288]

It makes complete sense that they are shutting down stores (not so much good news for employees though). The stores are literally everywhere, and in the bigger cities you can actually look out the window of one of their stores and read the menu from the store across the street. Its a ridiculous business strategy to keep them all open. Yes, its great for the people working there earning a living, but honestly with the economy sinking the way it is, this had to be predicable.

[Sol]

We only have one Starbucks in our town. Hopefully it doesn't close. I love their stuff, even though it seems kind of overpriced. XP Plus my friend's mom works there, and that's her family's only source of income, so, that would kind of suck.

[Mr Arrow]

...Over here in S.F., they're literally everywhere!....

My favorite is in the financial district, where 2 stores are located literally across the street (diagonal) from each other. Back in the heyday I guess it was too inconvenient to cross the street to get Starbucks.

I love Starbucks coffee, I buy their ground beans and make coffee at work and at home. I think my wife and kids single-handedly keep the local Starbucks in business. I live in a suburb of San Francisco who's population is about 220,000, we have 10 in our city alone (2) of which are drive-thru's.

This should not come as a surprise to anyone.

[Tussell]

I really hate the regular clientele of that fucking place, but damn do they have good coffee.
It's kind of a shame that were going to have 600 less. :P

[ickygod]

Iced quad venti vanilla latte... mmmmm, good... I don't go to Sbux that often anymore, I used to be an addict, then I added up how much I spent there in a month, it was scary. It's too bad though because they take good care of their employees, I have a number of friends who work there and are very happy.

[Honkymagoo]

Starbucks did this to themselves by opening up 3 stores per street and charging $9 bucks for a cup of coffee. I don't think their coffee is anything special to begin with, I'd certainly take Dunkin Donuts over Starbucks (for price and quality) any day of the week. Only problem is that the assholes that hang out in Starbucks are now going to end up in Dunkin Donuts for a lack of coffee shop to hang out in.

[Fighterspledge]

I actually did a research paper on the overpopulation of Starbucks about 6 months ago. Starbucks over saturated the market to the point where they were actually beginning to get a negative return on their investments. In downtown Seattle, they literally have a Starbucks at every block. It's so overpopulated that the stores were actually in competition with each other in order to conduct business.

So in retrospect, the plan to have the influence of a franchise without the benefits of actually being a franchise didn't work. And now they gotta close a bunch of shops. Just bad marketing strategy overall.

[Barrthnine]

I figured that this was just a market correction. They expanded incredibly aggressively - that story about two across the street from each other being a perfect example. Its never good when people start losing jobs though, especially with the economy the way it is right now.

[Mr Arrow]

.... Only problem is that the assholes that hang out in Starbucks are now going to end up in Dunkin Donuts for a lack of coffee shop to hang out in.


ha ha.......let's see then try to order a half cap, soy, no water, non-fat, lite foam, 185 F, 3 pump, caramel, chocolate sprinkles, double cup, shaken not stirred vanilla latte!

[Mothershed_52]

Sad to here, about all the employees...

I drink it occasionally when I am in the town over. My town doesn't have one.. :(

[kiwi18]

Ha, maybe if they didn't open 100 in each town in America. maybe they wouldn't have to do this closing.

[Fighterspledge]

It's called capitalism, and were just playing the game.

[jorGe62990]

I heard on the news that they are only closing down the under-performing stores, so if you go to a busy shop, chances are it isn't closing down. My personal favorite coffee is the java chip frappuccino...mmmmm so good.

[Jdm7399]

Here in S.F., you'll see plenty of Starbucks and Walgreens.

I use to be a Manager at Walgreens and I use to receive company emails from the Corporate Fat-Heads talking about they want to open their 7,000th(or was it 8,000th) Store by next year. There will always be a need for Medication and I suppose that's why Walgreens is still around ever since 1901. They're #1 in Drugs, but we all know Wal-Mart is King in the Retail end.

I've always thought about merging Starbucks in with Walgreens, just like how they have McDonalds in Wal-Marts. Granted that there are Mini-Starbucks in Safeway, Walgreens out number them 20:1.

So instead of opening so many individual Starbuck shops, why not merge them with successful Retailers instead?

[Mr Arrow]

The Starbucks in Safeways are owned (franchise?) and run by Safeway, and the one's around here don't offer all the same items.

Not sure of the business end of it, but once they put cup holders on the shopping carts this is the ONLY place my wife gets groceries now!

[GameFreak47]

I swear, Starbuck's is out of control. It was only a matter of time before they had to start shutting stores down. Feel bad for everyone losing their jobs though.

[Fighterspledge]

The Starbucks in Safeways are owned (franchise?) and run by Safeway, and the one's around here don't offer all the same items.

Not sure of the business end of it, but once they put cup holders on the shopping carts this is the ONLY place my wife gets groceries now!

Yeah technically it's not franchised, more of an agreement to exclusivity. You know, like Taco Bell and Pepsi. McDonalds and Coke. You'll never see them selling both.

Are they even real Starbucks people? Or are Safeway employees working it? I've seen it once where I live and didn't even think about it until you mentioned it.

[CMCX360]

Ah, this reminds me of the Rite-Aid boom that happened around here, and is still happening.
They build their stores only on corners. Walgreens takes the corner across the street (not diagonal) from them. Then a CVS or something takes a corner across the street from Walgreens.
It's funny as hell.

[Randomnutta]

we dont have starbucks here in aus we have gloria jean

[Honkymagoo]

ha ha.......let's see then try to order a half cap, soy, no water, non-fat, lite foam, 185 F, 3 pump, caramel, chocolate sprinkles, double cup, shaken not stirred vanilla latte!

But who the fuck really wants that shit? I can't believe I'm saying this but that's the most pretentious coffee I've ever seen :p Cappuccino's are good but when it comes down to it I just want a goddamn cup of joe.

[Mr Arrow]

But who the fuck really wants that shit?


http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1172/11723/300_11723.jpg


Does this still count as on topic??

[ickygod]

Are they even real Starbucks people? Or are Safeway employees working it? I've seen it once where I live and didn't even think about it until you mentioned it.
They are Safeway/Vons employees ;)

[Parkerktm]

I heard about this the other day and although i was suprised it makes complete sense. With gas prices rising, a $4 latte could be a gallon of gas, which could get you to and from work for one day.

I think i read that around 5 thousand people were getting laid off. I actually just drove by a closed down Starbucks earlier today in Bangor, Maine.

I'm just glad they kept the 30+ starbucks around my house open, it's always nice to have a coffe drink once in awhile. I'm not a huge coffe fan, but it's always nice to stop by and get a cold frap in the afternoon or a warm latte in the morning or late at night while gaming :)

[91GSX]

Ah, this reminds me of the Rite-Aid boom that happened around here, and is still happening.
They build their stores only on corners. Walgreens takes the corner across the street (not diagonal) from them. Then a CVS or something takes a corner across the street from Walgreens.
It's funny as hell. I'm going to assume you are from Ohio? I know exactly what you are talking about. It's annoying as crap! I refuse to step foot into either store.

[Cheezbrgr]

Hooray!!!!

I hate starbucks ever since an employee accidentally spilt my chilled coffee all over my awesome new hoodie.

Gloria Jeans FTW. (Aussie-wide chain that stomps the colon of major chains. Best cold coffees EVER.)