One hour to national coffee blackout

(via Machinist) · February 26, 2008 · 3:58 PM

Starting right about NOW you have an hour to order that grande triple soy no-foam extra-hot whatever:

Salon's Machinist blog reports that all American Starbucks shops will shut down this evening between 5:30 and 9 p.m. local time--yes, that includes "we never close" Las Vegas--to conduct what the company is calling "a historic in-store education and training event."

Here's what's on the menu for Starbucks employees tonight: Transformation Agenda Communication #8 (yes, it's really called that), from Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

Neighborhood (non-casino) Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations are taking advantage of the blackout and giving free coffee drinks (one per person) between 5 and 8 p.m. tonight. And Dunkin' Donuts is selling small lattes, cappuccinos and espressos for 99 cents until 10 p.m.

If you've heard of other local coffeeshops making a pitch for customers during the total eclipse of the Starbucks, let us know in the comments.

Discussion: 1 comment so far...

By Stu_Pidasso

2/26/08 at 4:09 p.m.

Suggest removal

Geez it's about time. Starbucks has been going downhill for a long time. Remember when a cup of coffee would taste so good? Now it's a bitter mess. I remember jumping out of my skin if I had to wait for the barista to make a coffee slurpee for some slacker secretary. Now I visit only one location because they know me and they know how to make what I want. I can't guarantee satisfaction at any other location and Starbucks could care less. By the way, tonight we can find out if Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf can satisfy since any drink any size is free during the blackout. Hmmmm...