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[BREAKING] Starbucks To close 600 Stores!! Economy Sucks Ass

biz.yahoo.com — Starbucks Corp. has announced it's closing 600 underperforming stores in the United States.

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  • kathcom, on 07/01/2008, -11/+69Ye Gods! Can it be true?
    • killerofkiller, on 07/02/2008, -1/+36so much for "one on every corner, sometimes two"
      • MonkeyFarts, on 07/02/2008, -2/+29Yeah, now it's going to be one every other corner. *Gasp!*
    • brettmurf, on 07/02/2008, -9/+4Well, they are still opening more stores up next year. So they are down like only 400 stores.
    • matrixbandit, on 07/02/2008, -13/+8It's not the economy that sucks ass, in this case, but a very clever spin nevertheless.
    • DannyDriffs, on 08/25/2008, -1/+24I guess 'clustering' isn't a great long-term growth strategy. This was years overdue.
      • YoctoYotta, on 07/02/2008, -2/+14I read in Seattle Time's write up that 75% of these stores were opened Jan 2006 and later, and their closures were indeed likely the result of poor real estate research by the company. Clustering is necessary in some high volume locations, which is where they got the rotten idea, but it doesn't work in most.

        (actually, here ya go, this has way more info than this Yahoo article anyhow: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstech ...
      • djphatjive, on 07/02/2008, -2/+4I think people realize 6 dollars is way too much for some black water!
      • funkywood, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1Wasn't their strategy to open more and more outlets to the point where franchisees started to cut into each others profits? That'll hit small independants too until they go under. OK, job done, now they can close down half of the franchises and get 100% market share. Yey for mono-culture coffe shops.
    • Buckeye17, on 07/02/2008, -7/+2They were already planning on shutting down stores.
    • maz2331, on 07/02/2008, -6/+4Yeah. They actually are thinking of shutting down... 3% of their stores.

      I hope the Republic can survive THIS economic shock.

    • dfsjdkflasjk, on 07/02/2008, -3/+26Premium coffee for $5/cup is idiocy.
      • ellisgl, on 07/02/2008, -5/+5I pay less for a hole can of coffee grounds, that when I brew it - tastes a lot better in my opinion.
      • elipabst, on 07/02/2008, -2/+15Where the hell do you live? Pretty much everywhere I've been, Starbucks is less than $2 for a 12 ounce cup. For perspective, McDonald's is about 40 cents less. If Starbucks is $5 a cup, what are you paying for gas, $10 a gallon?
      • YoctoYotta, on 07/02/2008, -2/+13@elipabst

        Not every one drinks black brewed coffee like the men we are, the $5 drinks are along the lines of venti breve caramel machiatto with an extra shot and some hazelnut flavoring. People pay retarded money for that filth.
      • dfsjdkflasjk, on 07/02/2008, -1/+6elipabst, be realistic. Generally speaking, no one goes to Starbucks for their drip.
      • KMartSheriff, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Except that a cup of coffee there is like $1.60
      • championchap, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3What the hell?!
        You guys are going to some facking CHEAP starbucks!

        Every one i've been to in the UK a small cup of coffee costs about £2.60
        in American money thats about $5.20
    • kaiken1987, on 07/02/2008, -3/+2Is it the economy being bad or peopel getting smart then paying 10 bucks for a Grande its a ***** large
    • Modizzle, on 07/02/2008, -9/+2C'mon guys. Bush is still undoing Carter and Clinton's mess. Soon we'll all better off.
    • LoungeActx, on 07/02/2008, -1/+6I guess they finally figured out Manhattan doesn't need one at all 4 corners of every city block.
    • richmomz, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5Who would have thought people would get tired of paying 5 bucks for a freaking cup of coffee?
    • Gorgamel, on 07/02/2008, -3/+11buried for [BREAKING]
    • digs71874, on 07/02/2008, -2/+0I hope they replace these 600 Charbucks stores with Dunkin Donuts.
    • OwdenBowden, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Dugg for using the phrase "Economy Sucks Ass"
  • cynic573, on 07/01/2008, -20/+759Oh no! Now I'll have to walk TWO blocks to get some mediocre coffee!
    • RadiatedAnt, on 07/02/2008, -4/+331 block for me.
    • burton3660, on 07/02/2008, -0/+10Oh so true
    • DavidBGie, on 07/02/2008, -29/+20"Economy Sucks Ass". The Economy is doing good. Why does the media keep trying to talk it down? Politics? You bet.
      • phunlee, on 07/02/2008, -5/+27Please let us know which parts are 'doing good'? Also, help me find out where I can find out for myself.
        Thanks!
      • 335io07, on 07/02/2008, -3/+9Economy might suck for some but for me as an e-commerce entreprenuer (Ebay powerseller, Amazon preferred seller) I am getting more orders than I ever dreamed of. I think people don't want to drive to retail stores because of the gas prices and shopping online paying the shipping costs in exchange for gasoline. Once this so called recession hit my business has doubled in sales.
      • Firehed, on 07/02/2008, -6/+12I wouldn't say it's doing well, but it's certainly being made out to be much worse than it really is. People are just whiny about gas that's only 40% of the price of the rest of the world, rather than the 20% or so they're used to.
      • 335io07, on 07/02/2008, -8/+5Firehed speaks the truth on gas prices. For example, in Japan, they paid about 5 dollars a gallon about three years ago.
      • Murdats, on 07/02/2008, -8/+11what a wonderful world you live in, where cancer has been cured and america is winning in iraq.
      • martalli, on 07/02/2008, -2/+3You forgot your /sarcasm tag
      • SenorBudd, on 07/02/2008, -2/+4Ask the NYSE if the economy is doing fine. Economy is driven by its market. The market is hurting in more ways that gas prices.
      • 1randomguyO8, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2"Please let us know which parts are 'doing good'?"

        Well the US economy is still growing steadily so I guess that could be classed as "doing good" but it is only positive compared to all the others i.e job loses, inflation, credit crunch etc.

        Even here in Australia our share market has been going south all year. Super is down, shares are down and inflation is up but like India and China we're still experiencing some good growth figures(thanks to demand from China for our commodities).
        So yeah long story short, it is not all bad news.
    • cowboy77061, on 07/02/2008, -16/+8McDonald's coffee FTW.
      • Namelessthinker, on 07/02/2008, -8/+6Don't you mean FTL?
      • jerrysizzler, on 07/02/2008, -1/+7For The Laxative?
      • martalli, on 07/02/2008, -3/+2Faster Than Light?
      • Harmatia, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Hey, if you're a senior citizen the 85 cents McDonalds coffee is pretty badass.

        You just have to know how to order it. "Light and sweet" doesn't cut it at McDonalds-- it means "whatever the hell you feel like giving me".

        Give us an exact # of creams, # of sugars (or Splenda, or Equal), and don't ask for skim milk-- all we have is 2%, and we bought it from the Hannaford's across the street.

        Then delicious coffee will be yours.

        /disgruntled ex-McDonalds employee.

    • Skooma714, on 07/02/2008, -11/+5Bitter too.
    • xsquirrel378x, on 07/02/2008, -10/+3Oh no! Now I'll have to walk TWO blocks to the other Starbucks!
    • thatsmyaibo, on 07/02/2008, -1/+65 feet for me. We have a Starbucks in the supermarket and literally one right outside the market. McDonald's ice coffee is better and cheaper anyways.
    • Ydnar723, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2Oh no! If they do close one of the Starbucks in my city, that means there will be another 3 in a 6 mile radius to choose from!
    • MooNinja, on 07/02/2008, -11/+6Indie fanboy reaction at it's best here. When Starbucks was up and coming, I bet the majority here were like 'Zomg, why are you drinking Folgers, Starbucks is so much better" . I love how y'all turn on something once it gets famous. Saying Starbucks is mediocre, is like saying Scarlett Jo. is ugly, just insane.
      • ScottyQuest, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Scar Jo is ugly. She has a face like cheese melted over pingpong balls, and hideous lips.
    • duggdowncatisad, on 07/02/2008, -0/+11This is America. Most people will DRIVE the two blocks.
      • Canadian0207, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1sad but true. I was in NYC and I ***** you not, i was with a friend that wanted to hail a cab to go north two blocks.
  • deepinside, on 07/01/2008, -17/+360"The company says it will try to place workers from closed stores in remaining Starbucks."

    That is pretty cool of them
    • exilio, on 07/02/2008, -2/+23I hope they make good on their promise -- if so, very cool indeed.
    • JHB800, on 07/02/2008, -0/+52It is. What some people are missing with this story is that Starbucks isn't doing this to put people out of work, they're doing it to get rid of excess store capacity. (Which they have plenty of. There are 10 Starbucks within a 5 mile radius of my house, for example)
    • geodebug, on 07/02/2008, -12/+25do or do not, there is no try.
    • HUKI365, on 07/02/2008, -15/+10No its not. EVERY company says that.
    • GoatMonkey2112, on 07/02/2008, -0/+35Even if they do place them in another Starbucks it would mean a big cut in hours for everyone. They will end up needing new jobs anyway to maintain the same income level.
      • KMye, on 07/02/2008, -0/+12Starbucks has huge turnover at the entry level, and a third of the employees will welcome an opportunity for a few less hours. This would be absorbed within no time.
    • Skooma714, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3Unless they were understaffed in the first place.
    • DeFex, on 07/02/2008, -0/+12they wont try very hard though.
    • hiplobonoxa, on 07/02/2008, -1/+28sadly, it will cost an additional $10 in fuel to commute across the street.
      • mardraum, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3I was going to make a joke about walking, but you're right. if they work at Starbucks then they must drink Starbucks coffee for a bit of energy.
    • kingUssop, on 07/02/2008, -2/+15Uh, I don't see where they're going to have job openings for 600 closed stores in their remaining stores. So yeah "cool" if you mean those 5% that can transfer.
      • publiclurker, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5Around here, you could walk from one store to the next without much trouble. Near my office there are two within about 200 feet of each other, and on the way to the office there is a spot with 5 stores within about a mile radius.
    • TheSexyGeek, on 07/02/2008, -1/+7Don't people already work at the other stores?
    • Ransom13, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5For those who can't or don't want to transfer to another store, Starbucks is offering severance pay for full and part-time workers. I don't know what the amount is, may not be much, but at least it's something.
    • Hangly, on 07/02/2008, -2/+12If you threw that many English and drama majors out of work they would have to turn to performance art to survive. Starbucks is performing a public service.
    • isunktheship, on 07/02/2008, -1/+8yeah they have 2 starbucks at my university village, they're like 200 feet away from each other. one's going out of business, the other isn't. Sucks to be a part of that coin toss! But they won't have to relocate far.. it's the same damn parking lot.
    • topherbook, on 07/02/2008, -1/+7I don't support Starbucks, but they do treat their employees very well. I have friends who have benefited from their relocation programs. I would love them if I didn't hate them so much.
      • Peko, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5You're partially right. Starbucks does do some things which are better than comparatively similar jobs.

        For example, Starbucks employees are eligible for health benefits. The fine print is the employee has to work more than an average of 20h/week for 2 months; (or something very similar, please correct me if I'm wrong). Now if there is a cost cutting manager employees will find their shifts drying up very suspiciously when that employee gets close to the 200h they need (again, correct me if I'm wrong) to qualify for health benefits.

        My impression is that Starbucks is indeed a better than average "entry level service job' but don't forget to read the fine print.
      • MaskedSlacker, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2You would love them if you didn't hate them so much?

        Holy Titillating Tautology Batman!
    • kubedawg, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4What that means is that they will be firing some people from their company. It's all about how they spin it.
    • thailand1972, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1I don't get how that can work. You have 20 people working in store A and 20 people working in store B. Store A closes, and they promise jobs for even just 5 people for store A, at store B. That means store B has 25 people working in it, instead of 20. This means less hours for everyone. This seems like a bad move for all those at store B. What if they're promising work for all 20 at store A, in store B?
    • Detroit77, on 07/11/2008, -0/+0Actually don't believe the bs spin their putting on for the media. Their just trying to make themselves look like their being compassionate. What there doing is firing people at the remaining stores to make room for the employees at stores that have closed. If you were late for work , even 2 minutes late, you get a warning. That warning is all the excuse they need to fire you.
      I've been with the company 6 years and was told that the company is going to get rid of some people to make room for the "top" people from the district. Which basically means because I make more money than most and I was once written up for being late for work ( car broke down on the way in) im probably going to be let go.

      Alot of us are confused and don't understand why were being fired because the company made a mistake by growing too fast and opening 2 or 3 stores within a mile of each other. I feel bad for the people working at the stores that are closing but why compound the problem by firing other employees to make room for strangers from another store? It's obvious the company hasn't thought this through and is making some MORE serious mistakes in how their handling it.

      As if times aren't hard enough on all of us with gas prices and the economy now I have to find a new job because their playing favorites
  • allowners, on 07/01/2008, -27/+51The service economy? Where to now oh grand leader, decider, dictator?
    • aspec, on 07/02/2008, -1/+13McDonalds.
    • th3w00d, on 07/02/2008, -10/+11I believe Clinton's "Free Trade" mentality has lead to the departure of manufacturing, smart one.
      • awtripp, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3partially true. there's absolutely no oversight and very little regulation to sending jobs over seas. We can't get away with paying workers in the US 40 cents an hour AND treating them like *****, but hell, outsource that to a NAFTA partner (aka China) and BOOOM cheap cheap cheap imports.

        The Clinton's are big money democrats, they're in bed with people like this. Not to say Clinton didn't do some good things while he was in Office, but the hastily signed NAFTA agreement was *****.
    • OstrakonX, on 07/02/2008, -6/+5Step 1: Brilliant team of American (or at least American-employed) scientists develop an alternative, cheap energy source.
      Step 2: Employ millions of Americans to develop, cultivate, manufacture or whatever this energy source.

      3 birds with one stone: Oil economy dies, lessening our dependence on it. As a result, the Mideast nations and all their ***** extremism collapse thanks to the fact they have next to nothing supporting their economies besides oil. America finally prospers again.

      Too bad we have just as much ***** extremism. With all the anti-science crap peddled by the ignorant right-wing masses, we're not that much better than Iran.
      • coyote1284, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Soylent Amber: The perfect fuel...
  • aronnyc, on 07/01/2008, -23/+106OMG, you mean the company that charges 3x the amount for crappy coffee is closing some of its stores? I am amazed.
    • BigCountry68, on 07/02/2008, -0/+16well considering there is about 800 starbucks on my way to work this wont effect me much
    • mogebier, on 07/02/2008, -18/+7As usual, you haters are wrong. They do not charge 3x the normal amount for Coffee. Their regular coffee is the same price as everyone else, it's the specialty coffee that's more expensive.
      Dork.
      And if you get regular coffee IN the store, you get free refills as long as you are there.
      • JOJOFACE, on 07/02/2008, -3/+5I'm confused as to why you are being dugg down...
      • coyote1284, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2@JOJO
        Failure to recognize hyperbole
      • mogebier, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1I'm being Dugg down because those people hate being proven wrong.
    • plnegative1, on 07/02/2008, -8/+9Dude, there's something called overhead - the store would not make profit otherwise. The coffee is not bad. Quite being a lame ass hipster. If you prefer local coffee joints, be my guest and continue going, but to my experience local places aren't that great either.
      • jenrzzz1, on 07/02/2008, -2/+2My family owns a coffee shop, espresso is one of the cheapest things we sell.
    • blorc, on 07/02/2008, -3/+4If they're charing 3x more and still selling tons of it, wouldn't they be keeping stores open?
      • ironsam, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4Who said they are selling tons of it?
      • coyote1284, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Because there's so god-damn many of them that some stores get less customers and the one 3 blocks away is in a more convenient location.
    • KlassyGuy, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3People are complaining about gas prices, and their lousy burnt coffee is 8 times as expensive as gasoline (not sure of the conversion from "grande" to gallon). People rather fill their tank than fill their gut with caffeine. If this suprises Howard Schultz then he shouldn't be CEO.
  • basye, on 07/01/2008, -10/+100Looks like filling up the gas tank is more important than filling up on brewed burnt coffee beans for most consumers. And the economy gives itself a sharp but needed correction.
    • CogitatorX, on 07/02/2008, -9/+9"And the economy gives itself a sharp but needed correction."

      Something in the way you say that reeks of douchbagery.
    • vidaliasweet, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Having to decide between coffee and gas? Hardly a correction.
    • HotSaucePanCake, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6Actually Starbucks Overexpanded... its written everywhere, apparently Coffe isn't at the center of life...
    • xatx2, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1well said
  • bblande, on 07/01/2008, -4/+284You gotta believe that in an economy like this, $3 lattes will be one of the first things to be cut from regular peoples' budgets.
    • Tenlow, on 07/02/2008, -2/+107If they only cost $3, I might buy them more often.
    • mj1903, on 07/02/2008, -3/+33That's not likely. Most people are much more loathe to buy expensive items due to sticker shock than hundreds of small addictive items because they don't realise that 100 x $3 = a big item.
      • mardraum, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4I can't digg you enough. everyone should do the math sometime and see even how much drinking a bottle of soda with lunch instead of a glass of water could end up costing you. for all of my willpower problems in losing weight, it's my raw greed that got me to stop drinking the stuff.
    • TheCamino, on 07/02/2008, -3/+13 Wow.
      $3 Lattes?
      That's a deal!
      You've got to live in East Timor to get out of a Starbucks for under three US dollars.

      /mumbles something incoherently about 'just beans a friggin' foam'
      • publiclurker, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Huh. A nonfat grande is 3.10 around here. I'm sure the smaller size is under 3 bucks.
      • prophetpimp, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Try Hong Kong. They are pretty decently priced out here but their coffee still sucks.
    • daivos, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4Um, try five dollar lattes.
    • pagno, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1I dont goto Starschmucks, but still, mine are closer to $6. 4 shots and they look at me like Im insane.
    • jcostom, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3$3? Maybe in North Dakota.. In NY, it's more like $5. We refer to the place as Fivebucks.
  • lhbaker, on 07/01/2008, -6/+114Starbucks should invent a car that runs on coffee.
    • RadiatedAnt, on 07/02/2008, -1/+15how so if coffee would be ridiculously more expensive then petrol. Now turn soybeans into a viable combustible and I'm sold!

      /yes i'm aware of the joke.
    • DefaultGen, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2Starbucks coffee costs WAY more than gas.
    • thailand1972, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2If they made their coffee as cheap as fuel, they wouldn't be closing 600 stores.
    • fuzzlog, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2The tank on this car would only be filled with Caramel Machiato. $1230 per fill. wow.
  • smmakira, on 07/02/2008, -2/+65There is so many of them no wonder! It's pretty bad when the people taking your buissness is another Starbucks that's ACCROSS THE STREET!! Only because they have slightly better parking.
    • morcheeba, on 07/02/2008, -2/+8Actually, that's a pretty good situation for them when they are their own competitors. When you take your business to a gas station ACCROSS THE STREET, then that's a bad situation.

      They could build a few mega stores, or lots of little ones... they chose the little ones so that they can be more convenient for you (i.e. one has slightly better parking for you; the other one may have better foot traffic for other types of customers). As long as both stores have good business, there is no reason to close either.
    • pixelbender, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2A mall here has a starbucks "light" as in a little expanded stand thing upstairs, and around the corner downstairs one that faces outside. Ridiculous.
    • novask, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5Considering my University has three Starbucks stores on campus, two of them being less than 300 feet apart, I couldn't agree more.
    • Jennadickes, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1There are*
      =)
  • GeckoSlayer, on 07/02/2008, -15/+8Tell them to lower their prices a little, that'll get a few more people buying the coffee and produce more revenue..
  • Aurabolt, on 07/02/2008, -15/+243BREAKING
    • dnields, on 07/02/2008, -2/+26Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
      • drgirlfriend, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Dammit! You stole my clever pop culture reference.
    • moonasha, on 07/02/2008, -7/+6The only thing you've broke is my heart.
      • Cloud7654, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4And killed you? And tore you to pieces? And threw every piece into a fire? And you're not even angry?
      • Jargonaut06, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1You're being so sincere right now?
    • VitaminH, on 07/02/2008, -2/+12CONFIRMED
    • jtbell04, on 07/02/2008, -2/+9(OFFICIAL)
    • imeddy, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3Did your water just break?
  • OnlyGirlOnDigg, on 07/02/2008, -26/+8BREAKING!!!! OMGWTFBBQ!!!!

    There are too many Starbucks anyway. I feel like I'm going into a walmart every time I go into a starbucks. F**k corporate America.
    • Gnar04, on 07/02/2008, -2/+5ahhh stfu.
    • mrtrik, on 07/02/2008, -3/+10Yeah. Boo corporate America! Oh wait... did you build that PC yourself? That OS? The monitor? No? Oh, looks like you need those evil corporations after all.
      • marx2k, on 07/02/2008, -3/+1I built my own OS. Thank you Linux From Scratch!
      • brokensystem, on 07/02/2008, -4/+1Not really. Those evil corporations didn't build them either. The poor workers in China or wherever that make pennies on the dollar did. A US worker doesn't deserve to earn a decent living wage but the corporate ass wads should be entitled to make a fortune while destroying our country.
  • daFilms, on 07/02/2008, -73/+291Alright Mr. submitter... now I know this may look like your first submission to get homepaged, but I will have to respectfully bury this article; now the tough part, mark as inaccurate or as lame?!?

    First, why must you be so childish an inject your elementary opinion 'sucks ass,' this adds no value (but it does show what's on your mind.)

    Second, I'm not going to proclaim that we have ourselves a utopian economy, but do realize that the major dent in Starbucks profit is rapid growth and quality of Competition! Specifically, stores such as McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts have come in to this market in full force and have done very well -- even winning blind-tests for quality.

    I will bury this article on the grounds that you used [breaking] in the tittle; apart from the fact that it's annoying, it is not relevant (they're closing nonperforming stores well into next year). Further, breaking is reserved for Time Sensitive material! tsunamis (oh ***** get out the way), assassinations, and other worldly impacting events -- I will not apologize, Starbucks is not one of them.

    sensational lameness, buried.

    P.S. do yourself a favor and don't overreact just cause M. Drudge told you to.
    • TexasShiv, on 07/02/2008, -54/+17what an elitest digg douchebag. Congrats... you are the king of everything Digg!


      Get a ***** life
    • mgill3, on 07/02/2008, -14/+6I ROFL'd for "(oh ***** get out the way)" AHAHAHAHAHHa
    • WastedDaily, on 07/02/2008, -30/+10Wow buddy...you have way to much time on your hands.

      Comment buried for you thinking you are cool by making such a grand comment..F&^%ing Douch :)
    • tattertech, on 07/02/2008, -3/+33But he's right. The opinion is unwarranted in this case. Starbucks announced a while back (before the economy really turned) that they were going to close a large number of US stores.
      • EstT, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1No, he is not.
        The one who submitted the article is allowed to put everything he wants in the title.The fact that the article made front page tells us something about the quality of it.
      • tattertech, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2EstT - You're right it does tell us something. That people are sheep and only care about sensational items accuracy or no.
    • Qtip42, on 07/02/2008, -8/+15I thought the "economy sucks ass" was a wonderful comment. Something everyone can understand.
      • fuzzlog, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Economy sucks ass only for people who can no longer afford to go to Starbucks, the rest of us don't give a damn.
    • Daniel591992, on 07/02/2008, -4/+14He also sent a shout to 79 people to get it on the front page.
    • cdigioia, on 07/02/2008, -3/+8You're weird...
    • Trammel, on 07/02/2008, -2/+5Word, daFlims.

      You should still give him a break, he just didn't do well in English (or Common Sense) class in school.
    • tibe, on 07/02/2008, -3/+8get over it
    • leonardoty, on 07/02/2008, -4/+8Tittle?
    • omyard, on 07/02/2008, -4/+2Bravo.
    • vidaliasweet, on 07/02/2008, -7/+4Yep, cultured folk use the term "sensational lameness" in place of "suck ass". Ironic, cuz i can really picture you sucking back a Venti sippy cup while saying that.
    • crapmatic, on 07/02/2008, -2/+3Well, like it or not, poorly spelled material and hype are what gets the diggs.
    • sodoh, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1I don't think it is competition that is working. If you look into Starbucks business practices (detailed in 'no logo' by Naomi Klein).

      In order to compete with the local coffee shops, starbucks buys out their lease from under them, then closes them down and puts a starbucks in their place.

      This leads to saturation of the market area, making the chance for other coffee shops to grow almost 0. I'd put even money that this is starbucks just knocking the fat off the business.
    • zerbinati, on 07/02/2008, -8/+0Wow. You must think you really are something. ***** jerk.
  • vkny88, on 07/02/2008, -12/+4Its bad for you anyway! Maybe people will learn to drink something natural, and save some money, or if you really like to drink in the Styrofoam cup that much buy cheaper coffee from McDonald's or something.
    • JHB800, on 07/02/2008, -2/+4Starbucks has never used styrofoam, dick.
    • MissMyZDtv, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1try your kitchen, my coffee maker does just fine...
  • exilio, on 07/02/2008, -6/+84The economy doesn't suck ass -- having a Starbucks on every freaking street corner sucks ass! This was bound to happen eventually.
    • koko775, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5Agreed. Considering how many Starbucks there are, I don't think it's so much that the economy sucks ass (i.e. low demand) as there is too much supply.

      At one point in SF (I forget where) there's a Starbucks on both sides of a street and one in plain sight down the block a little. Tooooooooo much.
    • Zanarkand, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5but where will all the mac users do their work at now???
    • kdor, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Oversaturated locations. Too many. They also are getting big chain competition from McDonalds and Duncan Donuts and local coffee shops/local chains.
    • vinod1978, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1@exilio - Even though you are right about having too many starbucks - they were successful with that strategy.
      The economy does suck. Like myself, other small business owners are struggling this year. Personally since last year I've taking a 60% loss in revenue. This is directly related to the economy, and in my industry I know of at least 8 large companies that have gone out of business, and when they go out of business that means they don't pay their bills, which means other companies can't afford to pay their bills and it turns into a vicious cycle.

      The economy does SUCK ass. Big hairy monkey ass to be precise.
  • mhanson, on 07/02/2008, -4/+59600 stores? There are that many here in downtown Denver!
    • morcheeba, on 07/02/2008, -0/+11Exactly. They open about 2200 stores/year, so closing 600 stores sets them back to levels not seen since April 2008! (3 months)
      • marx2k, on 07/02/2008, -6/+0Hey, thanks for informing me that it was 3 months ago. I totally was lost as to when April of this year was. You rock!
      • morcheeba, on 07/02/2008, -0/+9Dude, you're totally welcome. I know it's hard to believe and kind of freaky, but a few years after I graduated college I began to get this superpower... It was slow at first - I could predict the next day of the week, and sometimes I could even tell how many days until the weekend. I've been honing this skill ever since, and now I can tell you what month it'll be in 4 months (november), or even 4 months ago (march). Did you know that in 12 months, it'll be the same month as it is now? How cool is that?!! I have to admit there was a time I was going to use this power for evil, but I'm not sure the world could handle Super Date Math Guy... so, now, I just use it to help out fellow diggers.
      • bono4u, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1@morcheeba keep up the good work, some like marx2k will need it(myself sometimes too as i am lazy as hell a consumer could be^^)
    • TeamoSupremo, on 07/02/2008, -2/+8I dugg you because of Denver!
      • notwkf, on 07/02/2008, -1/+6I dugg YOU because of Denver!!1
      • morcheeba, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3I dugg EWES because of Denver!!won
        p.s. stella's, anyone?
  • Bonekhan, on 07/02/2008, -5/+64Sucks ass: It's an industry term.
  • Farmer77, on 07/02/2008, -4/+82Reports are coming in that the Starbucks inside the bathroom of another Starbucks is closing as well.
  • ccourt23, on 07/02/2008, -7/+12I dont even drink coffee, but for some reason i was in shock for 2 seconds.
  • callmemorbid, on 07/02/2008, -7/+9what you mean i actually will have to cross a street to get some starbucks!
  • mb3581, on 07/02/2008, -10/+73NO, paying $6 for a cup of coffee "SUCKS ASS"
    • mogebier, on 07/02/2008, -9/+8You don't pay $6 for a cup of coffee, idiot.
      Their specialty drinks are more, their regular coffee costs as much as everyone elses.
      Dork.
      • peestandingup, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4Yeah, really. I mean, Starbucks is a rip off, but god damn! Which one is serving idiots $6 for a cup of coffee??
    • tibe, on 07/02/2008, -2/+4no i saw that video with the 2 girls. it's nothing like "SUCKS ASS". it's more just like paying $6 for one of their drinks.
      • Kloud, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3I saw that video "SUCKS ASS". It's more just like paying 6 girls for one drink.
      • Lavarock, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2One time couple of chicks in front of me in the line ordered 1cup of coffee.
    • MidnightRIder77, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3I get coffee there because they are the only place that is open till 11PM and the coffee at Panera and my local Mom & Pop store is more expensive (and a lot better I may add). Also the service is better. Panera has given me so much free ***** for coming in before closing that it's amazing. They always throw all the pastrys away at closing and usually just give them away. Also if someone orders coffee and doesn't pick it up, instead of drinking it they will give it to you.

      The only reason your coffee should be $6 if you order something crazy like a Venti White Chocolate Cappuccino with two shots of espresso.

  • Hetman, on 07/02/2008, -9/+36It is there fault. They over saturated the market. In Downtown Chicago it is ridiculous. You cannot go 1 block with out running into a star buck. I am not joking when I say I can see 2 from my apartments window, actually 3 but another apartment building is blocking the view. That is there problem it has nothing to do with the economy.
    • zoom1928, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5I pass by four on my way walk work! Of course I've never actually been in any of them. I go to the Tully's across the street from my condo.
    • tibe, on 07/02/2008, -7/+1There is a certain lack of logic in your statements.

      "I can see 2 from my apartments window, actually 3 but another apartment building is blocking the view."

      Well then you can't see the 3rd one can you?

      Surely you could have said "it would be three if it were not for another apartment building blocking the view"

      Why you or I felt compelled to even make these comments in the first place still boggles my mind.

      However as long as you are going to bother, logic certainly would help you express yourself more clearly.
    • TomJohn, on 07/02/2008, -2/+8"Their," "without," "Starbucks," "apartment," "their" (again). I'm not even going into issues of punctuation. Where'd you learn English, on a Russian submarine? (Stands by for a Digg down. Thank you.)
      • Hetman, on 07/02/2008, -3/+2public school yet I still graduated from college
    • msk275, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3Everyone who replied to this in some stupid analytical way is getting dugg down. The comment was obviously meant to be exaggerated a little as to exemplify the density of Starbucks in the Downtown Chicago area. And I believe that to be true also.
    • sodade, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1I doubt that they will be closing stores in big cities. They probably overestimated how sophisticated middle America has become.
  • nblsavage, on 07/02/2008, -3/+34There are too damn many of them anyway. In Portland, I ***** you not there is a Starbucks on the first and 3rd floor of the same mall. In the suburbs there is a Starbucks in one of the grocery stores and another in the strip mall next to the grocery store.
    • Hangly, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6If you stand on the second floor you can watch them both. They're right on top of each other, and they're always busy.
    • publiclurker, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Is there still one across the street from that mall? There was a few years ago.
    • jasonmantey, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3I know, it's crazy - there's a mall near me (Somerset in the Detroit burbs) has three of them - all of which are always busy. I don't even think these ones will be among the 600 closing stores.
    • Peko, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Hey, I don't know the specifics of the mall you're talking about (how big it is, etc) but at the big mall I'm most familiar with there are multiples of several stores (Eaton Center, Toronto). There may even be multiple Starbucks. It's not unusual in bigger malls and a business like Starbucks (casual/impulse food service) is probably one of the best candidates for doubling up.

      Come to think of it at my local "big train station" (Union Station, Toronto) there are two "Second Cups" (coffee as well) within 50 meters of each other.

    • cmallinson, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Check out the amount of Starbucks in Vancouver. There aren't many malls that have only one Starbucks - a couple of them have three. There are tons of places with stores directly across the street from one another. There is at least two Safeways with Starbucks stores inside, and also another one in the parking lot. The is an intersection in Langley with Starbucks stores on three of the four corners. I work downtown, and there have to be at least 50 of them downtown, and more open every week. I think there are over 200 stores in the Vancouver area now.

      All of them are busy, but the economy is doing well here - for now.

  • DarkReign16, on 07/02/2008, -10/+16Who cares.
    • ravage86, on 07/02/2008, -3/+7stock holders?
    • eddie72, on 07/02/2008, -6/+2Anyone that loves their coffee.
      • marx2k, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5Anyone that loves their coffee doesn't go to Starbucks
    • petershultz, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1People who live in the United States (Not me :P )
  • fruscianteisgod, on 07/02/2008, -12/+6starbucks has always been good to there employees so this really sucks
    • Myonosken, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2He's being buried? Speaking from a European perspective where Starbucks are in most towns and cities but not to silly extremes, they are very good employers. I was on £5.80 an hour when I worked there a year or so ago (the minimum is £4.60 which most retail and food sectors give you) and didn't get treated like *****.
  • spunkz, on 07/02/2008, -2/+17It's obvious the problem has to do with over-saturation in the market place as well as the economy in general. There has never really been a good reason why Starbucks should be on every other corner in a couple of the cities.
    • Noctem, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Exactly what I was thinking.

      There's only so much coffee people can drink, and most places have quite a few choices, between Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and various local places, Starbucks simply can't survive with a store every 3rd block.
  • AFHCO, on 07/02/2008, -10/+5OMG!!! I won't survive!!!
    I'm gonna go a WHOLE block to the next one!!!
  • soot, on 07/02/2008, -3/+61Breaking: Starbucks announces closure of less than 1/10th of 1 percent of its retail chain.
    • morcheeba, on 07/02/2008, -0/+15Close - it's 3.8% of their stores... but they're also building 2,150 new stores this year, so the net gain will be at least 1,500 (or about 10%).
      http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/30/news/companies/sta ...
      • MidnightRIder77, on 07/02/2008, -7/+1Why would a company that is closing down 600 stores due to poor performance sell more franchises? How ***** stupid are they?
      • Tweekster, on 07/02/2008, -0/+13To close unprofitable franchises while expanding in growing markets.

        How ***** stupid are you?
  • imhalfpirate, on 07/02/2008, -3/+22Does this include closing Dr. Evil's (secret) Seattle Space Needle Lair?
    • Nerolus, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6There is a Starbucks in the spaceneedle. No joke.

      Ok, it's not a STARBUCKS, but it's "Seattle's Best". Aka, starbucks secondary seattle local undercover starbucks. Starbucks owns the name, and actually pretends that it's a different chain.
  • RGSPro, on 07/02/2008, -3/+20About time... When I lived in San Diego, I had over 45 starbucks locations within a five mile radius of my apartment. Now in the inland empire I can think of several spots where I can get starbucks on either side of a freeway overpass. Seriously Starbucks WTF is wrong with you guys.
    • mrtrik, on 07/02/2008, -6/+3So more convenience is a bad thing? Supply and demand, right?
    • jcm267, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6Sounds like Dunkin Donuts and (to a lesser extent) Subway around here in New England.
  • Ex3poo, on 07/02/2008, -2/+10All i can say is ,I better not go into work tommorow and my boss tell me that our store is being closed.I enjoy my 1 pound bag of coffee a week and 10.15 a hour.
  • hoowahman, on 07/02/2008, -4/+7oh my god you mean that people are actually choosing not to buy $4 coffee and instead maybe making their own or not drinking it at all to make ends meet?
    • garageboy101, on 07/02/2008, -2/+2You guys buy food?! I've been hunting in the wilderness for killing little critters and eating their hearts out. This is news to me.
    • marx2k, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2You know... the alternative to Starbucks isn't just making your OWN coffee... there ARE other coffee shops out there..
  • blacktriangle, on 07/02/2008, -9/+13This means even fewer 'manufacturing' jobs in the US.

    /A reference to the US Dept of Labor declaration that fast food jobs are in the division of manufacturing.
    • koft, on 07/02/2008, -2/+3I know right. I mean, taking a bunch of separate things and assembling them into a product which, get this, is sold to a customer definitely doesn't fit the definition.
      • publiclurker, on 07/02/2008, -4/+1It didn't before Bush came and redid things, but then you know that didn't you.
      • bipolarruledout, on 07/02/2008, -3/+3Manufacturing refers to durable goods and NOT FOOD. Fail.
  • toenail, on 07/02/2008, -8/+25LMAO @ [BREAKING]
  • AHIGHERGOD, on 07/02/2008, -5/+9"Who gives a *****. Who gives a *****." - Steve Langford.
    • 33PercentGod, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2Well,the man does have a huge penis.
    • tattoojoo, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2penis, penis... penis, penis... penis, penis...
  • rubaaan, on 07/02/2008, -2/+12600 stores?! where will that poor city block get their coffee now?
  • Thekirby45, on 07/02/2008, -9/+16damn it where else am I gonna do my writing at with my apple laptop???
  • PinkChicken, on 07/02/2008, -5/+13Starbucks intentionally oversaturated the market with coffeeshops to push out the competition. They seem to have been pretty successful with that. This was part of what they planned from the start.
  • mapkinase, on 07/02/2008, -8/+3Good. I wish any company supporting apartheid state of "Israel" on THAT scale goes belly up
  • eschompthis, on 07/02/2008, -15/+16STOP WITH THE BREAKING!!!!!*****
    • tama00, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2i dont know why your getting dugg down i totally agree

      breaking news is news that is _occurring_ as its being issued to the public.

      This is not breaking.
  • forgottenhope, on 07/02/2008, -3/+11there are 10 in the charlotte international airport. who gives a *****. its coffee, make it yourself.
    • duggdowncatisad, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Good idea. I always carry a coffee maker in my carry on luggage for just this reason.
  • doritostapatio, on 07/02/2008, -10/+6[BREAKIN']
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INAyUowDVac
    [/BREAKIN']
    • mapkinase, on 07/02/2008, -2/+10Buried, because I was expecting to be rickrolled.
  • RGSPro, on 07/02/2008, -6/+5$1.39 24oz cappuccino/coffee at AmPm or Circle K of whatever flavor I want + I can make it myself with 500 mini marshmellows! Suck that Starbucks!
    • Tweekster, on 07/02/2008, -0/+0you can get the same at starbucks for about the same price.
    • B3000, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4A cappuccino with 500 mini-marshmallows is no longer a cappuccino.
  • enderwigin, on 07/02/2008, -5/+9You know the economy is in bad shape when people don't want to spend $5 on a cup of coffee.
    • KSUdesigner, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5Even if the economy was in great shape, I still wouldn't want to spend $5 on a cup of coffee.
    • NightVortez, on 07/02/2008, -2/+3A crappy cup of coffee.
    • Ydnar723, on 07/02/2008, -1/+0For five bucks, I will make my own.
    • Jashobeam5, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Starbucks is a fad, and fads can fade out slowly. When we got our first Starbucks it was very busy. Now, we have about six in a 5 mile radius and the excitement has worn off. If I go to any of those now, there is usually no wait. I rarely do since burnt is not exactly enticing when it comes to coffee.
  • Miamisun, on 07/02/2008, -10/+1OH No ***** Way!!! You Better not close the Margate, Florida Store!!!!!
  • TheHaggard, on 07/02/2008, -3/+5So Howard Schultz said that these store closings were part of the plan when he came back on board at Starbucks several months ago.

    So why is this "urgent" or "breaking" news?
    • Ydnar723, on 07/02/2008, -0/+0I believe it is breaking or urgent under one of the following conditions:

      1. Some people may have been sleeping under a rock and felt they needed to be up to par with the news.
      2. They was all at Tim Hortons or Dunkin Donuts instead hoping to buy a cup of $4.99 Coffee rather then a $5 cup.
    • starlite, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1He actually only estimated about 100 store closures, not 600. But, the economy sucks and it's better to close your under-performing stores that cannibalized themselves.
  • hockey1061, on 07/02/2008, -3/+27If you can go to this many in one day...
    http://www.171starbucks.com/

    We may have too many...
  • nickbernstein, on 07/02/2008, -11/+26It's a CORRECTION -- people have been spending money like ass-hats. Most people can't afford to spend $10 / day on two cups of coffee. They do anyway. Most people can't afford to spend almost a million dollars on a house. A recession won't hurt people who are actually adding value and have been saving their money and being responsible. It will suck for some people, but that's what savings accounts are for.
    • Hangly, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4Recessions and depressions are both kinds of corrections. I'm not sure what your point is.
    • B3000, on 07/02/2008, -2/+5When the value of the dollar plummets to zero, all your savings will be worth as little as my nothing.
    • thecarpe, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1dugg for well-placed "ass-hats" smack...never not funny.
  • GamerSDG, on 07/02/2008, -4/+1What is this Starbucks yous talk about?
  • pradaaddict, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4LOL @ [Breaking] this isn't CNN
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