Let me start of by saying that my email address is: sbuxluvr@yahoo.com.  For those of you not in the know, SBUX is the stock symbol for Starbucks.  The LUVR part should be self-explanatory.

The fact that Starbucks plans to close 600 stores is fantastic news.  Simply put, Starbucks has lost its way over the past few years.   Branching out into movies, books and music was fine and dandy, but I'm not sure what it did to enhance the"Starbucks experience."

Opening drive through Starbucks stores may have served the purpose of getting more coffee to more people more quickly, but it is one of the resaons you now hear the term "McStarbucks" thrown around so much.

Simply put, Starbucks just isn't as special as it used to be.  Quality and consistency has truly suffered in the past few years.  Some baristas are joyful and friendly, yet some are surly and borderline rude.

Starbucks also overbuilt!  Here in Dallas I know of one store that will surely be on the closure list due to its proximity to a very busy Starbucks.  I know of one other store in East Dallas where the line of cars going to the drive through blocks the cars of people who actually go inside the store!  It was terrible planning!

I could tell many years ago that bad decisions were being made at Starbucks.  When I lived in Seattle in the late 1990's, a new Starbucks opened up connected to a Shell gas station.  Talk about class!  "Would you like a latte with that fillup, Mister?"

But for those Starbucks haters out there, I have news for you!  Starbucks never drove a really good coffee shop out of business!  In fact, quite the oppostie is true! 

By popularizing the "coffe experience" Starbucks made community and coffee cool again and opened the door for many of the great independent coffee shops and chains to do better than ever!   You can thank Starbucks for driving lousy coffee shops out of business!

While Starbucks may be the best known, it is not the only player in the game.  Depnding on where you live, visit Tully's Coffee, Caribou Coffe, or Peet's Coffe!

We can also thank Starbucks because without them, think of all the people we would not get to meet.  When is the last time you met your neighbor or made a new friend while eating at a burger joint?

Hey, and there's more.  Ever plop down in a comfy chair and read a book at McDonalds?

Ever worked on your laptop while chowing down on greasy fries?  Don't think so!

Go Starbucks!!!   I am sure you'll get your mojo back....but if you don't you've opened the door to plenty of others!

Thank You for making coffee cool!