Starbucks Is Closing 600 Stores. So What?

Coffee drinkers seem to have lots of different opinions about the apparent financial problems that Starbucks is experiencing. Some of these opinions appear to be caffeinated, while others are seriously decaffeinated...

Most people think that Starbucks is a franchise. It isn't. From their corporate website:

"Starbucks does not franchise operations and has no plans to franchise in the foreseeable future.
In North America, the majority of our stores are Company-operated. As an exception, Starbucks may enter into licensing arrangements with companies who provide access to real estate which would otherwise be unavailable such as airport locations, national grocery chains, major food services corporations, college and university campuses and hospitals."

There seems to be two distinct groups coffee lovers in the USA:

Group #1- The Caffeinated Group-
The caffeinated group loves the Starbucks concept. The dark wood, the rich green colors that seem to permeate the storefront operations, and the strong, and slightly burnt tasting coffee. They feel that Starbucks really created something..a coffee culture, if you will, and strongly defend their $3.85 Lattes.

Group #2-The Decaffeinated Group
The decaffeinated group totally opposes anything that reeks of a cookie cutter type operation, whether they be company owned storefronts like Starbucks, or franchised operations, like the Daily Grind. For these coffee aficionados, a small town feel is the key. Pricing is important also, but not the end all, when it comes to deciding where to hang out, and drink java. A small town like coffee shop.

In my franchise travels the past couple of weeks, I have been asked about my feelings concerning the closing of 600 Starbucks Cafe's. I answered the questions as Unexcitedly as they were asked.
My answer:

"And?????"

Would you care to share your feelings about Starbucks, coffee, or tea???

Do you know of any coffee franchisors that should be sponsoring a cool new website?

Like this one?

Comments

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[Cleveland Coffee]

More opportunity for Dunkin' Donuts, which are 100% francisee owned. Better coffee and espresso and much less expensive. Dunkin has not chaged itself (except for polished up shop images) and isn't trying to become Starbucks.

Starbucks forgot who it was and tired to be like Dunkin with faster service and drive thrus, and also like a Barnes Noble with all the CDs and other merchandise and drove away the core customers who now find nothing that originally drew them to a place they felt worth overpaying for.

Dunkin just opened like 5 new shops in northeast Ohio in the last year with more on the way. Starbuck$ is looking at which of its shops to close and has pulled out of deals it had to lease new spots.

[Joel Libava]

Pete,
You nailed it, big time. Our family almost put a kebash on our yearly beach trip. Business is tough, and the cost of living keeps inching higher.
Hey, I'm no Guy Kawasaki!
Joel Libava

[Pete]

Joel, here's my thoughts on the Starbucks closures, pure and simple. People have less discretionary income to throw away on four dollar lattes. Less coffee purchases, less Starbucks. Of course, there's clearly a lot more to it than that, but that's the nitty gritty for me.

You're just going to see a lot less people driving around in SUVs, drinking up their lattes, and using expensive smartphones anymore.