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Americano To Go (Away from Forbidden City)
Following up on Neil's post, the Starbucks in Forbidden City is in fact, closing. The Chinese have gathered 500,000 signatures that caused the management to shut it down.
Is that good or bad news?
Tim Footman of The Guardian expresses a concern in his column today that "in a global market of implied cultural signifiers, absolutely any product - even a cup of mediocre coffee - seems to have the potential to challenge socialism with Chinese characteristics."
He points out what we all know: it is not coffee that Starbucks sells. They sell "a lifestyle, a feeling, a brand, a corporate reimagining of bohemian leisure." Although the Chinese are perfectly willing to sell the fancy coffee, they refuse to sell the name and lifestyle. It was either changing the name or closing shop.
If you change the name, you end up with mediocre coffee. Closing shop, I guess, made perfect sense.
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Asia, China
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
Marygrace Jul 21st 2007 10:06PM
If I could afford it, I would go there because they give their employees great insurance, something most other big corporations don't do. They care about their employees AND the troops.
BECKIE Jul 21st 2007 10:06PM
TO ANNIE # 7 Starbucks does not oppose the war. check it out first...you are dead wrong.........becca
Starbucks Rules Jul 21st 2007 10:17PM
These are people that eat disgusting foods, live bugs and other gross things that smell like a pig's butt, and they don't want STARBUCKS to wash it all down?
mrdickieweed Jul 21st 2007 10:34PM
I think that Starbucks is pretty good actually, albeit overpriced....I think that a lot of the backlash comes from their(somewhat strange, I'll admit)company edict to prospective employees to murder a homeless man on the first full moon after being interviewed ....sort of an initiation...blood in blood out so to speak...well, to each his own I say....
Worthington Twat III
Julie Jul 21st 2007 10:24PM
"Starbucks Donates to Military Personnel. As part of
Starbucks ongoing commitment to share the comfort of
coffee during times of crisis, the company continues to
demonstrate our support of the men and women serving in
the U.S. military overseas."
Quit buying into the hoaxes people.
Lynn Jul 21st 2007 10:28PM
I love Starbucks and yes it is expensive but also very good. Some say it's not really "flavored" coffee but neither is Dunkin Donuts they actually add a liquid flavoring to it just like Starbucks does so I dont see what the big deal is. If you dont like it dont drink it!!
anne Jul 21st 2007 10:29PM
Starbucks is great, where else can you go to have a great cup of coffee, deal with polite young people, sit down read a paper, meet a friend, or just enjoy the environment. It's the Forbiddens City's loss, now all those "American Tourist" won't have to spend any of their money for overpriced coffee in China, you can be sure there is not many places in China like Starbucks.
Bill priola Jul 22nd 2007 2:02AM
Good Idea, There is a chinese resterant down the street from me. Maby i should try yo get it closed. Because i don't like there cooking. Think about it
elizabeth Jul 21st 2007 10:36PM
PETE'S COFFEE IS THE VERY BEST. SOOOO MUCH BETTER THAN STARBUCKS
BB Jul 21st 2007 10:39PM
I would like to comment to the right winger who continued the rumor that Starbucks doesn't support the troops...This is an email that has been going around for several years and it is a rumor. You can check its truthfulness (or lack thereof as in this case) on snopes.com. Its very sad that this heightened sense of patriotism has only fueled continued hate. Like Starbucks or not.. its your choice.
Anonymous Jul 21st 2007 10:52PM
Sheetz specialty coffee is better....Never seen the big deal in starbucks. We have 3 of them or so but, I've only bought like 2 things there.
VBall Jul 21st 2007 10:54PM
I LOVE Starbucks. Whats not to love!!!!?????
JoJo Chamandy Jul 21st 2007 11:01PM
Starbuck coffe is too expensive and the taste is not coffee. the best coffee and cheap Dunkin Doughnut.
Patti Jul 21st 2007 11:10PM
This is to the person who said they will never go to Starbucks again...because they do not support the war...Go to www.snopes.com
Search for Starbucks, it isn't at all true about them not supporting the war. The story was just another hoax.
Kevin Jul 21st 2007 11:11PM
To all the ignorant people who think Starbucks doesn't support the war...shut your mouths, you've obviously not been in the warzone. I was there, and getting a cup of Starbucks brand coffee was very easy. They do send coffee. Some Marine got pissed that he couldn't get Starbucks, and by means of a misunderstanding someone twisted it into a huge rumor that Starbucks isn't supporting the war. STARBUCKS DID SEND COFFEE TO THE WAR, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.
Mike Jul 21st 2007 11:13PM
I'm no great fan of Starbucks, but I wonder what they did to offend the Chinese. Did they refuse to use diethylene glycol for an artificial sweetener?
Did they demand testing to be sure there's no melamine in local bought muffin flour? Starbucks does seem to have some standard of quality, guess that's just not on in China.
scott Jul 21st 2007 11:18PM
People, relax!!!!. You guys are so ignorant! I have been to Beijing a few times now(I work for an airline) and there are Starbucks all over the city. They only closed the one that was in "the forbidden city". The reason being that "The Forbidden City" was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty city" It would be like putting a Starbucks inside one of the pyramids of Egypt. This has nothing to do with being anti-American or Starbucks. Do any of you posting even know what "the forbidden city" is???
Stacy Jul 21st 2007 11:24PM
Well of course the chinese wouldn't want a coffee shop in their country...they prefer tea, duh!
MICHELLE Jul 21st 2007 11:27PM
I love Starbucks! It just leaves more for the rest of us who love to drink it! :)
Kim Jul 21st 2007 11:28PM
I don't like the coffee that they serve, but the shop is first rate. I can't deny that it's being there and not the drink. Honestly though it just costs too much to buy the drinks.