patrick.net

It's a big deal, because his customers are Left leaning voters.

Hates Obamacare, likes Obama. Endorsed by Glenn Beck. Sells over-priced coffee, yet people buy it.

Just how could he go wrong? Is Starbucks the second version of the pet rock?

I think a lot of rich people are samrt-at least the first generation ones. The US is one of the best countries for rich people-you can be free, walk around and your kids are safe. Look at a lot of the third world countries where the extreme conservative policies are in place-no safety net, no minimum wage , extreme disparity in wealth. They live in fear-in giant compounds protected by armed guards, afraid of their kids being kidnapped and held for ransom. When the majority of the populace has nothing to lose and no avenue to go up-well the rich become"evil" and the two have an uneasy truce at best.

Not like that here. If the repubs succeed in ending SS and Medicare and remove all safety nets and give even more tax cuts to the wealthy, while raising middle class taxes-this country would follow the Chinese curse-may you live in interesting times. We are probably the most armed nation on earth-in terms of private citizens and guns-ain't gonna be pretty.

CaptainShuddup says

It's a big deal, because his customers are Left leaning voters.

Pure BS, and it's so convenient for you to be able to dismiss things so easily. What you have been saying last year when the story was being written quite a bit differently

"after spending much of last year attacking Obamacare so much that he became a center point of Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor‘s press releases."

lostand confused says

I think a lot of rich people are samrt-at least the first generation ones. The US is one of the best countries for rich people-you can be free, walk around and your kids are safe. Look at a lot of the third world countries where the extreme conservative policies are in place-no safety net, no minimum wage , extreme disparity in wealth.

While all of that is true, the conservatives or republican party wants that here in the U.S. and even farther if they could. The republican version of America that they wish for makes Somalia look like some kind of paradise. And the base of the republican party is living right now not far from that in the red states and where there is heavy republican support and control.

lostand confused says

Look at a lot of the third world countries where the extreme conservative policies are in place-no safety net

What third world country? This ought to be good Ya'll, watch this...

Try not to pick one, that was a make believe Island in a Schwarzenegger action movie.

CaptainShuddup says

What third world country? This ought to be good Ya'll, watch this...
Try not to pick one, that was a make believe Island in a Schwarzenegger action movie.

What do you think modern conservative policies are? Go to countries as diverse as Brazil, India, Somalia and you will see them. The Facebook co-founder from Brazil came over here because he was on a kidnapper's list.

The funny thing is that many of them are "Americanizing" and our conservatives want to take us back to that state. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

lostand confused says

Go to countries as diverse as Brazil, India, Somalia

Did you say diverse?

Now back to Starbucks new BFFs...

Starbucks served up some encouragement to investors Thursday with quarterly results that showed strong sales growth.

The Seattle-based chain posted earnings close to analyst estimates. More reassuring was news that same-store sales rose 6%, and that the company increased its dividend from 17 cents to 21 cents a share.

Shares jumped 7% in after-hours trading,

Well I've got plenty of Friends and the fun never ends, as long as I'm buying... Is it any wonder I'm not in Jail?

lostand confused says

The US is one of the best countries for rich people

I was thinking that if you are really rich, it probably doesn't matter where you live.

If you're really rich, you only keep a residence to run to, when the French are your Ass with one of their damn envoys.

Comrade Patrick, why do you keep deleting my posts? If you disagree, why not say so and challenge me? Stop putting my posts in your editorial gulag.

Honest Abe says

Comrade Patrick, why do you keep deleting my posts? If you disagree, why not say so and challenge me? Stop putting my posts in your editorial gulag.

I bet I know why. Your posts could be perceived as racist and trollish.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/starbucks-to-lay-off-1100-employees-this-week-as-ceo-aims-to-deliver-on-turnaround-135518008.html

Starbucks to lay off 1,100 employees this week as CEO aims to deliver on turnaround

sbux is never empty when i see one. we never go, too expensive for us. we have an espresso machine, been making our own.

zzyzzx says

Starbucks to lay off 1,100 employees this week as CEO aims to deliver on turnaround

Used to be a coffee guy. Who the hell still buys it from a storefront or drive through? I always made it at home with better quality coffee. Wake up 10 min earlier and brew it yourself.

Coffee shops are probably a dying breed in a slowing economy. Can make coffee for 0.10¢ a cup versus $4 with better coffee. I'm a Jamaican Blue Mountain drinker. Light. Wakes me up, but not jittery. No need for cream or sugar. $75/bag (1lbs), but it's still cheaper. I can get 60-100 cups out of that.

https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1967824471282360496

Starbucks programmed their printers to not print the name Charlie Kirk

Americans are ordering Charlie Kirk’s favorite Starbucks drink in his honor

The Starbucks employee CONFIRMS their system has been programmed to ban the name Charlie Kirk (WOW) “The sticker won’t print”

A good reason to boycott Starbucks.

I don't like their espresso anyway, so I never went there, except in Japan, where there was literally no other espresso available in Tokyo that I could find.

Patrick says

I don't like their espresso anyway, so I never went there, except in Japan, where there was literally no other espresso available in Tokyo that I could find.

No longer a coffee guy. Just bring a bag with you? Any place you stay in will at least have a coffee maker. I don't need the sugary shit that I feel like I'm getting diabetes from. If/when I drink it, it's straight black coffee. If I want a coke in the morning I'll have a can in the fridge. Never understood going somewhere and buying $8 coffee.

I read Luckin Coffee (or China's Lucky Coffee) is competing with Starbucks like offering $2 lattes.

Will see as far as consumer demographics what happens, if Starbucks can attract younger generation to store to buy at least 2 drinks during one visit.

That means they sit at the store for at least 30 minutes and don't just freeload off the coffeehouse atmosphere, free wifi and restroom facilities.

The only thing I like about Starbuck in general (besides the 70's series) is that weird tune "Moonlight is Right."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYnQsvtfEsQ

AD says

Will see as far as consumer demographics what happens, if Starbucks can attract younger generation to store to buy at least 2 drinks during one visit.

That means they sit at the store for at least 30 minutes and don't just freeload off the coffeehouse atmosphere, free wifi and restroom facilities.

Outside of a legit sit-down place with servers I have no interest in sitting in a coffee place. My house is much better by a long shot. I could make my own coffee for 0.10¢ a cup and have a snack/breakfast for under $1. Wifi is exponentially faster and safer. I use my hotspot in public or hotels. Not worth the risk. Like riding trains I just don't want to sit around a bunch of entitled people that think because they're at Starbucks, they're sophisticated. You're kind of a loser. Buy good coffee and grind it yourself. Starbucks is trash from my past coffee drinking days.

WookieMan says

Just bring a bag with you?

I honestly had no idea that the Japanese don't drink espresso, and barely drink coffee. Mostly tea.

WookieMan says

Never understood going somewhere and buying $8 coffee.

It's $4 for an espresso around here. Still crazy though considering how fast it is to make and how little coffee is used.

AD says

I read Luckin Coffee (or China's Lucky Coffee) is competing with Starbucks like offering $2 lattes.

The year I studied in Munich, I went to a place called Tchibo every day, which didn't even have seating. You had to stand at a tall table.

But they were fast and had good espresso for about 20 cents. You read that right. And they made a profit at that price. That's how cheap it really is to make espresso.

WookieMan says

I have no interest in sitting in a coffee place. My house is much better by a long shot.

I go to cafes partly just to get out of the house. And I have a lot of cafe friends I see now and then, people I know just from the cafe.

Patrick says

WookieMan says
I have no interest in sitting in a coffee place. My house is much better by a long shot.

I go to cafes partly just to get out of the house. And I have a lot of cafe friends I see now and then, people I know just from the cafe.

Don't have to answer, but you don't have kids correct? I could kind of see the attraction of a coffee house in that case, I just can't stand random people that tend to invade my space. Are loud. I can socialize with other parents at events with kids.

I'm shocked you're getting $4 espresso in CA. Outside of straight black coffee everything in IL is $4+ When I did drink coffee I always got the biggest I could so that might be part of my take on it. A single drink here is usually $6-8 besides straight black coffee. Even then still $3. Part of the reason I stopped getting any. Plus the lines are shit drive through or inside. I don't have the patience.

Back in the day, in the former NYS (now the PRNY), for road trips in the winter I'd bring a giant thermos that I'd refill using a full pot of Dunkin Donuts coffee - they'd charge me $2 for the pot.

Their coffee was actually good back then - this was before Starbucks ruined it for coffee drinkers by over-roasting the beans.

Patrick says

I honestly had no idea that the Japanese don't drink espresso, and barely drink coffee. Mostly tea.

That still true? I used to work for a Japanese company, and a lot of people were drinking coffee back in the day.

stereotomy says

The only thing I like about Starbuck in general (besides the 70's series) is that weird tune "Moonlight is Right."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYnQsvtfEsQ

That's a Yacht Rock classic. Great marimba solo!

Patrick says

https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1967824471282360496

Starbucks programmed their printers to not print the name Charlie Kirk

Americans are ordering Charlie Kirk’s favorite Starbucks drink in his honor

The Starbucks employee CONFIRMS their system has been programmed to ban the name Charlie Kirk (WOW) “The sticker won’t print”

A good reason to boycott Starbucks.

I don't like their espresso anyway, so I never went there, except in Japan, where there was literally no other espresso available in Tokyo that I could find.

Pretty sure this isn’t true.

However if Starbucks did decide they aren’t taking part with whatever trend, I don’t think that’s really a bad business decision.

A day later, I can confirm this isn’t true.

What did happen is the trend took place and a number of Starbucks employees acted out, in violation of company policy.

Source …distant family member who is a regional manager. In their region, they actually fired three employee who wrote vulgar responses on the cup instead of CK’s name. Understand Starbucks employees still lean very left, but the majority are not “unhinged” and truly want/need the job. I’m assuming a few hundred employees nationwide got shit canned and view it as a positive.

I’ll go back to what I’ve said in previous threads. I’d fell just as shocked appalled and angry had someone on the opposite side of the fence…say Cenk Uyger…been killed in the same manner as Kirk. The reason is everyone in this country is entitled to their political beliefs and to talk about it. Killing someone for doing that is antithesis to a nation founded on individual liberties and freedoms. I’m pretty sure more people feel the same.

"my Starbucks" is a Moka pot with Bustelo expresso coffee

Starbucks announces plans to cut another 900 jobs and close more stores as its turnaround struggles continue

Starbucks (SBUX) announced plans to close unprofitable locations and cut corporate jobs as CEO Brian Niccol focuses on the company's turnaround plan.

In a letter posted to its blog and sent to employees on Thursday, Niccol shared that the company plans to eliminate 900 non-retail roles and close open positions. The memo said employees will be notified on Friday, Sept. 26, and will offer "severance and support packages including benefits extensions.”

"We will continue to carefully manage costs and stay focused on the key areas that drive long-term growth," Niccol wrote.

This comes after the company laid off 1,100 employees earlier this year. Niccol said the company plans to use the savings to invest in its stores by adding more customer service employees. Other investments include new coffeehouse designs and innovations.

Corporate employees, including support partners and people managers, are now required to come to the office four days a week starting Sept. 30, Niccol said in July.

Sept. 9 marked one year for Niccol at the helm of the company, which continues to face turbulent times.

In its latest quarterly results, Starbucks posted its sixth straight quarterly drop in US same-store sales. US same-store sales fell 2%, in line with the prior quarter's drop but less than the 2.5% drop that had been forecast. That was driven lower by a 4% decline in comparable transactions. Wall Street expected a sharper 4.5% decline.

Niccol also pointed to plans to reassess the store portfolio in the earnings call.

Now, the company plans to reduce its store count by roughly 1% in Canada and the US, reflecting both closures and openings, this fiscal year. By year-end, the total company-operated and licensed stores across the US and Canada will be nearly 18,300. As of Q3, there were 18,842 locations in North America.

"We identified coffeehouses where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance, and these locations will be closed," Niccol wrote.

Starbucks plans to invest in 1,000 locations over the next 12 months to double down on the cozy coffeehouse atmosphere as it moves away from pick-up-focused customer experiences.

During a call with investors in July, Niccol said Starbucks plans to execute small, targeted renovations of its stores, spending approximately $150,000 per location, to bring back the thousands of chairs for patrons it took away.

For new locations, Niccol said it was able to cut the build cost by roughly 30% and will introduce a new stand-alone prototype in fiscal 2026 that will have 32 seats and a drive-through.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/starbucks-announces-plans-to-cut-another-900-jobs-and-close-more-stores-as-its-turnaround-struggles-continue-120332919.html

Starbucks Closed Over 450 Stores This Week—Is Your Favorite Location on the List?

Key Takeaways

Over 450 Starbucks (SBUX) locations in the U.S. closed this week, about 1% of its total locations in North America.

The "grab and go" revolution might be overtaking Starbucks' traditional coffee shop model.

From renovated stores with actual seating to baristas writing on cups again, Starbucks is betting on becoming your "third place" even as customers increasingly just want their coffee fast.

Starbucks is closing about 1% of its company-operated North America stores as part of CEO Brian Niccol's dramatic $1 billion restructuring plan, Niccol announced last week. The cutback, he wrote, is "necessary to build a better, stronger and more resilient Starbucks." The company did not specify the number of closures, but some industry watchers say the "about 1%" translates into approximately 430 to 520 stores.

While the company wouldn't provide us with an official list of its closures, Investopedia scoured local newspapers and network affiliates, employee lists circulating on social media, and cross-referenced locations with the Starbucks location app and phone calls to compile a list of 467 locations that have shut their doors permanently this week.

…….

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/starbucks-closed-over-450-stores-191920228.html

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Starbucks Closed Over 450 Stores This Week—Is Your Favorite Location on the List?

How many did they open though? They just opened one in a town near me. There's one in the grocery store in the same complex. I was never heavy into commercial real estate, but this seems completely retarded. I literally could hit my driver and the ball hit the front of the grocery store.

I think coffee is a dying model anyway. There are so many other drinks out there. I can roll up to a gas station and be in and out in 2 minutes instead of a 10-15 minute line for a cup of coffee with stupid names for sizes for average coffee. I'm a water and beer guy. Technically I drink shitty light beer that is basically water anyway. My pee is like a Montana stream, clear as can be.

WookieMan says

I could make my own coffee for 0.10¢ a cup

Costs me about 25 cents (includes water, Stevia, half and half creamer, electricity and cost for Moka pot) to make 3 cups of Bustello expresso , same would cost at least $5.50 at Starbucks (with $1 tip)

Yeah, I love me Pilon, Bustello, etc.

Coffee is outrageous now. Dunkies wants over $3 for a medium coffee (at least they put in the cream and sugar, unlike Lazybucks).

AD says

WookieMan says
I could make my own coffee for 0.10¢ a cup

Costs me about 25 cents (includes water, Stevia, half and half creamer, electricity and cost for Moka pot) to make 3 cups of Bustello expresso , same would cost at least $5.50 at Starbucks (with $1 tip)

I was straight black coffee. That's where my number comes from. I only drank it for the caffeine. I drink shitty beer, so black coffee is a breeze. Though I no longer drink coffee unless out with buddies and go to breakfast the next morning. Usually that's vacation though. I get too jittery with coffee, but it does wake me up.

I just don't understand the coffee game. Definitely cannot justify $3-6+ dollars for a cup. I'd rather get a 6 pack of tall boys and get an evening buzz before bed. Beer is cheap in IL surprisingly.

STARBUCKS' 2025 HOLIDAY MERCH HAS A BEAR CUP WITH TRAVIS KELCE VIBES

https://www.elitedaily.com/lifestyle/starbucks-2025-holiday-merch-collection