Starbucks, A-Rod and Madonna, Oh My!

Starbucks to close 600 stores in U.S.
A-Rod linked to Madonna!

Are these related events? No. But figured I'd ramble on them at once rather than post two different items.

First Starbucks. It's the classic case of growing too fast and believing your own hype. Pikes Place stinks. They built too many stores and saturated neighborhoods (at least in big cities), which only served to alienate their core customers who no doubt got a little tired of feeling overwhelmed by the one chain they could stomach supporting. They also expanded to fast internally too with food items that no one needed--egg sandwiches, etc. The atmosphere changed and before you knew it the backlash started. Of the 600 stores, 300 are between 72nd and 100th Street on the Upper Westside.

Of course, part of this is driven by Wall Street. It's not enough to run a hugely successful franchise. It most grow by leaps and bounds or else the Street and The Wall Street Journal will start to find the clouds in that silver lining. So then you grow too fast and try to do too much and lo and behold your expenses rise, your revenues fall and suddenly your in trouble.

Now on to A-Rod and Madonna. If true, at least A-Rod's no ageist. Now I don't know Mrs. A-Rod but I do know she looks pretty damn hot and any chick who shows up at the stadium in the `Fuck You' shirt gets my vote. Madonna, come on A-Rod that would be interesting if it was 1998, maybe.