Has Starbucks gone to pieces? Starbucks today and the Starbucks I worked at in Chicago and set my historical fiction novel Tripio in, would have a hard time recognizing each other. For one, there are about 25,000 more stores and 200,000 more employees around than when I wore the green apron. Those numbers tell the... Continue Reading →
A trip back to Starbucks store #204
A trip to my Starbucks #204 It is the summer of 1992. In my "Starbucks novel", Tripio, Jay works at a Starbucks store #204 located on north side of Chicago on the corner of Clark, Diversey and Broadway. In Tripio, for the sake of brevity and authenticity, I refer to it simply as store #204,... Continue Reading →
Two Starbucks books
The tale of two Starbucks green aprons I am reading "How Starbucks Saved my Life" by Michael Gates Gill with great interest and a good deal of empathy. I am marking Starbucks 50th anniversary by attempting to read other books on Starbucks that focus on the baristas, and not the business. My novel, Tripio, does... Continue Reading →
Can money buy happiness?-part 2
"Have you looked into getting it to a publisher?' "Tripio. The book?' I responded. Howard appeared to be not overly concerned with my book sales. 'Oh, yea early on. But I found the process to be too much like looking for a job. Like sending out countless resumes...and crossing your fingers. I have had enough... Continue Reading →
The cost of doing business at Starbucks
HOWARD BEHAR AND I 'TALK' AT A STARBUCKS "You know the store where Tripio takes place is gone now?" I asked Howard next. I had no idea why. "Oak Park?" He looked back from the street to meet my eyes. 'No. The one on the corner of Diversey, Clark and Broadway. Dickens is stll there,... Continue Reading →
Too easy to criticize Starbucks?
Kevin Knox answers another of my questions Question-In the blogosphere, Starbucks seems to be an easy target to hate on for easy clicks. It tends to bother me. Does it bother you? Or is it deserved? Kevin's Answer-I think most of the criticism is uninformed. Howard Schultz deserves enormous respect on the business side (along... Continue Reading →
A Tripio back in time with Howard Behar-Starbucks wasn’t always global
H.B ""So are you here for work?" Howard Behar asked me. We had stepped outside to sit down at his table of choice. 'For the week." I responded with my trademark caution. I had not worked for Starbucks since 1994. I did run one of the first Barnes & Noble Starbucks cafes for about a... Continue Reading →
A Tripio back in time with Kevin Knox-When Starbucks was a coffee place
Question for Kevin- In Tripio, Jay is frustrated by the expectation that all the espresso shots had to be between 18-23 seconds. Did Howard Behar, Howard Schultz really believe all the pours were to specifications? Even on 1,000 customer mornings? Answer-1-1.25 fluid ounces including. crema made from 7 grams of espresso blend in 18-24 seconds.”... Continue Reading →
A Tripio back in time as Kevin Knox talks Starbucks
Tripio excerpts- 'My Amtrak is heading into suburban Chicago for real now. The Cosmodemonic might have a store in each suburb in a few years. Is there that much good coffee on the planet? There are rumblings of another roasting plant on the east coast. Cosmodemonic don’t play." "It had been rainy and cloudy for... Continue Reading →
A Tripio back in time with Kevin Knox and Howard Behar-Part 1
I recently caught up with two men who were working for Starbucks before most anyone knew or cared about much about coffee in this country. I wanted to provide a unique look back at the now legendary company through the lens of my historical fiction novel, Tripio. By that I mean, I hope that this... Continue Reading →