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Subject: NEW STARBUCKS OPENS IN RESTROOM OF EXISTING STARBUCKS
NEW STARBUCKS OPENS IN RESTROOM OF EXISTING STARBUCKS
CAMBRIDGE, MA--Starbucks, the nation's largest coffee-shop chain,
continued its rapid expansion Tuesday, opening its newest location in
the
men's room of an existing Starbucks. "Coffee lovers just can't stand
being far from their favorite Starbucks gourmet blends," said Chris
Tuttle, Starbucks vice-president of franchising. "Now, people
can enjoy
a delicious Frappuccino or espresso just about any time they please,
even
while defecating."
The new men's-room-based Starbucks, the coffee giant's 1,531st U.S.
location, will be open to both men and women when not "in use." In
addition to offering specialty coffees from around the world, it will
serve freshly baked pastries, Italian pannini sandwiches and soups, as
well as the rest room's usual selection of toilet paper and soap.
"This is a great addition," said Jonathan Connolly, a
Boston-area banker
who tried out the new Starbucks Tuesday. "I was enjoying my
usual triple
mocha latte in the main Starbucks, and I had to go to the bathroom,
where
three people were in line to use the stalls. The wait might
have been a
problem, but, to my great pleasure, there was another Starbucks right
there, ready to serve me more delicious coffee. And the baristas were
helpful and courteous."
Connolly added that after he finished drinking his coffee and
using the
bathroom, he stayed for a poetry reading near the urinals.
"I was a little bit worried about the new restaurant cutting into our
business," said Dave Grobelkowski, manager of the original Starbucks.
"But the only people going there are ones who have already purchased
items
from us anyway. And if we run out of stirrers or cream, we can just go
to
the bathroom and borrow some."
According to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, the new location represents
the beginning of a long-term expansion plan.
"Eventually, Starbucks rest rooms everywhere will sell
coffee," Schultz
said. "But that ambitious scheme is at least five years down the road.
In
the meantime, we plan to open an additional location in this
Starbucks'
ladies' room within months, and are already drafting plans
for a fourth
restaurant along the corridor leading from the main seating
area to the
rest rooms. At some point a 'Star-bucks Express' window will
eventually
open in the walk-in closet of the men's room Starbucks."
"Drink our coffee," Schultz said. "Drink it."
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