For my many and diverse sins I have become a compulsive collector of Starbucks City Mugs (but only for those cities I have visited). I spend a lot of my time drinking their coffee seeing them as my third place, so it sort of makes sense. There are already three shelves of them at home and I will have to build more shortly. When I landed at Calgary last night my first thought was to find Starbucks and add to the collection. However all I could get was Canada. Vancouver has its own as does Toronto. WHat has Calgary done or not done? I think there is an interesting PhD here to study the Seattle perspective of the world bbased on which major cities warrant a mug or not.
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Comments (5)
What about the cities that don't warrant a Starbucks never mind a mug ? (Actually I'd see this as a good thing, like refusing to have a McDonalds or declining a mega-Tesco, as Darlington recently did).
A couple of years ago, 2 enterprising friends of mine went to Seattle to persuade Starbucks to give them the franchise for Brussels. In the Starbucks perspective of the world, Brussels did not merit a Starbucks franchise alone. As it is in such an obviously piddling little country (let's ignore the centre of Europe argument), Starbucks were only willing to give them a franchise for the whole of the Benelux. At a significantly greater cost, of course, as this would cover 3 countries. And to this day, there is no Starbucks in Brussels...
Posted by Cheryl | November 6, 2006 3:29 PM
Posted on November 6, 2006 15:29
Hmm. I was in Singapore a few years ago for an exhibition and made a collection of the six commemorative Tiger beer tankards they had - each one celebrating the history of some part of the city. Why should beer mugs provide six per city when coffee can only do one per country? I think we should be told.
Posted by David Williams | November 6, 2006 4:58 PM
Posted on November 6, 2006 16:58
Interesting. Is Stockholm the most famous European city which doesn't have a Starbucks? Talking to some Stockholm-ers, there is a bit of pride in this (more power to Waynes Coffee shops et al.) It was quite frustrating for a NY consultant working on a project there with me.
At the other end of the scale, in the worlds greatest capitalist/amrket economy, China (yes, really) - there appeared a Starbucks in the Forbidden City. I'm sure the Emperor would have approved.
Posted by David Cronshaw | November 8, 2006 4:48 PM
Posted on November 8, 2006 16:48
But as you will know Cheryl, there are some *really lovely* cafes in Brussels and you always get a little buscuit or chocolate with your cofee.
My favorate is up from Central Station heading for Ave De Art Loi (hope I got the spelling and words right there) where the gentlman serving always recognises me and as always, lets you drink strong coffee and eat the lovely pastries before paying.
Posted by Peter Stanbridge![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.cognitive-edge.com/blogs/dave/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 15, 2006 11:24 PM
Posted on November 15, 2006 23:24
I apologize for this private message but I'm very interrested about what Cheryl told about her "2 enterprising friends". I'd like to get in touch with them for sthg they could be interrested in... if possible.
Posted by Arnaud | June 14, 2007 1:27 PM
Posted on June 14, 2007 13:27