This sort of "reporting" is so weak. Google shouldn't list this site as a 'news' source.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-bzstar275593057feb27,0,432413.story
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-bzstar275593057feb27,0,432413.story
www.press-releases-are-us.comMatt McComb drove his cream-colored Cadillac DeVille right past the Starbucks in a strip mall on Route 110 in Melville, and parked in the lot at the Dunkin' Donuts three doors down for his fix.
It was 7:30 p.m. and the upstate resident said he needed a cup of coffee, and he knew he had to change his language and driving pattern somewhat to do that after Starbucks announced nearly 7,100 of its outlets would be closed to retrain its baristas.
McComb said he was willing to make slight adjustments in his routine as his favorite coffee shop made its own.
"I think it's great what they're doing," McComb said as he rushed past steady raindrops into Dunkin' Donuts to order a "small" black coffee rather than the "tall" version that he would have asked for at Starbucks. "They've slipped a little bit, but I think they're going to come back."
That's what Starbucks executives hope.
The world's largest chain of coffee shops closed almost all of its U.S. stores for more than three hours last night, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., to train its employees in a bid to stem a downward trend in customer visits.
While some of Starbucks' would-be customers flocked to its equally well-known, if less expensive competitor, the stores were far from empty.
Dozes of baristas, sans green aprons and logo-emblazoned caps, carried clipboards, took notes, watched videos and listened to presenters under the soft lighting that creates the chain's ambience at the Farmingdale and Melville stores, among others.
But the Starbucks counter inside the Target store on Route 110 was open for business.
Starbucks chairman and chief executive Howard Schultz, who built a local Seattle coffee chain into a corporation with almost 16,000 cafes, is using the training session to try to improve sales after ousting James Donald as chief executive last month and returning to the helm.
Part back-to-basics tutorial, part pep rally, the session aimed to reacquaint baristas with the art of pulling the perfect shot of espresso and steaming milk to add a subtle hint of sweetness to a latte and give the velvety foam on top just the right thickness.