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February 26, 2008

Coming up: Three-and-a-half hours without Starbucks

Don't get jittery when you duck out of work later today for a grande skinny cafe mocha, only to find your favorite Starbucks closed.

It's only temporary. And it's not just here. Almost all the stores' corporate locations will be closed today starting at 5:30 p.m. for retraining of "baristas" -- AKA wait staff. Stores with evening hours are scheduled to re-open at 9 p.m.

The international chain has been suffering the effects of poor growth, with sales falling at U.S. stores that have been open for at least 13 months.

As part of efforts to boost sales, the store is pulling its recently introduced expanded foods section, experimenting with $1 coffee, and a focus on international as opposed to domestic stores.

During the 3 1/2-hour sessions, workers will go through coffee quality and preparation training.

In the meantime, take a look, via Google maps, at other at other local coffee shops, or become your own barista.

And, it just so happens, competitor Dunkin' Donuts is offering small lattes, cappuccinos or espressos for 99 cents today, between 1 and 10 p.m.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from the Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 12:32 PM | Permalink

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