Yours is certainly a success story. In 1971 an English teacher, a history teacher, and a writer and started a business to supplement incomes where they began to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment. Then, in 1983, you took that trip in Milan, Italy, where you experienced the taste of quality coffees in the form of espresso and latte. Then in 1987 you bought the business started by the teachers and writer. You renamed it Starbucks. I read somewhere in the 1990s you opened a new store every day. Wow!
I acknowledge that I have always been astounded with your success. The thing that astounds me the most is your reading of the American people. Who would have known that folks would be willing to pay almost two dollars for a cup of coffee? Go figure!
I must confess to you that I am not one of those who think almost two dollars is a fair price for a cup of coffee, but there are times I have to visit your place. I will explain below.
I hear on the news the other day you have reduced your salary to a mere $10,000 a year. The cause of your decreased salary, I surmise, is the falling profits and the closings of hundreds of your stores. That is too bad. My impression is you’ve run a really tight ship, but we’re living in a time when even the smartest and most capable are victims of a failing economy.
Let me get to the crux of my concern. According to the source of my news information you have decided your establishments will no longer sell decaffeinated coffee after the noon hour in your stores.
How could such a man of considerable talent and ability come to this decision? I am at a loss for words. Allow me to explain.
Despite the fact of my aversion to two dollar cups of coffee, necessity bids me enter your establishments from time to time. The necessity results from my need to meet with the rising leaders of my church. Being products of the generation to which you cater they prefer to meet in quaint little establishments such as the ones you provide to talk of pressing issues and, you may be surprised to know this, sometimes to meet un-churched folks they can attract into the fold. With these people, Mr. Schultz, it is necessary I appear urbane, erudite, and sophisticated. Therefore, I have to pay the two dollars for the coffee. But my doctor says I cannot drink coffee unless it is decaffeinated.
It seems to me you could send your managers to Kroger’s and purchase one of those brew-it-by-the-cup plastic things. I really would reconsider your decision, sir. I don’t want to get threatening here, but someone has to stand up for my generation and this threat to our health.
Let me make another observation here. Sometimes the Starbucks I visit is in Chattanooga, and within the last three years I’ve visited four of your establishments in three other states. Are you sir, aware of the Supreme Court ruling in the 1964 case of Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States? That case, sir, ruled that Congress can regulate a business engaged in interstate commerce. And you, sir, by denying decaffeinated coffee to us seniors who are medically limited to non-caffeine beverages are restricting our constitutional right to be involved in interstate travel.
Don't worry, Parson. They will brew it especially for you. You'll have to wait a few minutes, but they will brew it for you. They just won't brew endless pots that have to be poured out when young people who can't afford health insurance and therefore don't *see* a doctor don't buy it.
Posted by: Songbird | February 02, 2009 at 07:37 AM
Leaving you an award over at my place. Do not feel obligated to pass it one. ((QP))
Posted by: SingingOwl | February 03, 2009 at 12:10 PM