Changes a la Starbux

As some of you have heard, Starbucks is not doing as well these days as it used to. We're in a recession and paying a premium for an "experience" has gotten kinda old. I mean, it was cute an all when it was just one Starbucks a block or two away from home. Now they are just everywhere and the saturation game is not winning Starbucks new fans. Yesterday, the company has quietly released the full list of stores it plans to shut down as part of it's plans to close 600 stores.

Well, good. Who needs a store in some random location, where frankly patrons don't know a latte or a cappucino from a cup of Folgers even if their life depended on it. "Thems are onna those AYtalian things?...."

On a recent trip (yesterday) I convinced my local barista to make me a sample of their new Vivanno shake that the company is rolling out to expand it's non coffee line up. (Oh yeah, I am not paying for something I don't like, so I justify my demand for a sample.)

Impressions: YUMMY! I'll take a Venti please. :)