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I hang out at Peet's Coffee & Tea (and indie shops) more often than Starbucks these days -- the shitty Wi-Fi that SBUX offers is why -- and no longer have that much interest in Starbucks' doings. Thus, the postings here will end after nearly a decade.

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Comments

[Jeff Tom]

It's been a good run, but like Starbucks' "legendary service" it had to come to an end.

The company is more interested in "Obama coffee" or whatever the coffee-for-jobs b.s. was about, petitions to government officials, and other things that have nothing to do with coffee culture.

It makes more money than ever but has lost focus on its core self.

I am on my last $38 or so loaded on my card, and will call it quits as well. A benefit of living in Seattle is that there are many, many other options.

[Thanks]

I agree with Jeff, it has been a good run.

The original open threads, Juan Valdez's reviews - and even "Boston Starbucks Rebel" are missed.

Thanks for the run Jim.

[Starbucks Gossip webmaster]

Thanks, gentlemen! ... and thanks to the many readers and commenters over the years. Here are a few of my favorite posts:

* The leaked memo from Howard Schultz for ex-CEO Jim Donald.

* The New York Starbucks bathroom masturbator.

* The Chantico fiasco.

* The original Starbucks celebrity-spotting post.

I'll post more if they come to me. (Written from Peet's Coffee & Tea)

[Andrew]

Can I take over? I've been following this thing for years... Email me Jim! I'll tell you more about my history with the company.

:) :)

[Starbucks Gossip webmaster]

Andrew -- I would sell the site and domain name for the right price, which would not be cheap for a few reasons ....

1) If you check the sales of domain names, you'll see that names "less attractive" than Starbucks Gossip are going for six figures.

2) Even dormant, the site will be a money-maker because of all the daily traffic from searches. Any search for STARBUCKS + [WHATEVER] will bring up Starbucks Gossip because of all the content archived over a decade.

Also, I want to keep it online because it documents some pretty interesting times for the company, including the launches and flops of various products; the dark days of the mid-late 2000s; the bizarre we're-closing-early-for-espresso-training chapter; the dismal $10 and under SBUX stock days; and Howard Schultz's transformation of the company -- turning it into something that was kind of special (it was still somewhat unique when I launched this in 2004) into just another fast food/coffee joint. (Anyone remember LEGENDARY SERVICE?) I rarely step into the place anymore; there are too many better alternatives.

So, Andrew, feel to make an offer. I'm not interested in taking on a partner to keep the site running, but I would be interested selling at the right price.

And thanks for "following this thing for years"!

[SS S.O.S.]

As a SBUX employee, I will be sad not to have this outlet any longer. It helped me a lot to know that someone else out there thought like me. Thank you for your contributions.

[Starbucks Gossip webmaster]

...and that you for reading, SS S.O.S.

[lattelady]

Sad to see you ending. As someone who has been shackled to the bar, for almost 9 years, I have enjoyed learning things ahead of my boss and having an outlet to bitch and complain. You will be missed!!

[Icedventigirl]

So many times, I laughed so hard I cried. This was a great outlet for me and it was good to know I wasn't alone. I will miss this. Thanks for everything and good luck to you!

[Teeles]

Where will we go now? :(

[Jim Romenesko (Starbucks Gossip webmaster)]

Teeles (and others) -- There's a lively group of Starbucks partners and customers on Reddit. The link:

http://www.reddit.com/r/starbucks

[I only bring my gun to DD]

Bummer.

[Martha]

Ewww, I hate reddit. I guess it's the end of an era. :(

[Venti Urnex Latte]

Ah yes! Those wonderful open threads!

Jim, don't forget to put the Urnex thread in your hall of fame.

This site has been slowing down...still, so sorry to see it come to an end, as all good things must do.

[Guat.my.mala]

As someone who has been watching this site since I started (and then quit SBUX 7 years later), I will be very sad to see this page go. It is the first thing that pops up when I start to type in an address in my bar. I'll miss knowing everything before everyone else. Thank you for this page.

[KindaAbruptNo?]

As someone who has been following this site off-and-on for close to eight years, I have to say: Wow ... that's a pretty unceremonious ending to a 10+ year run. I totally get your decision to exit -- that's a personal call -- but you would think that, after all the work that went into this and the huge number of views and readers and articles etc. that you would at least want to put together some sort of retrospective. This feels way too incomplete and like an inadequate acknowledgment of all the great work that you did (and readers contributed through the comments) over the last decade.

[Jeff]

I work for Starbucks. I am so frustrated with the amount of food we throw away everyday that is not expired. I wish they would let me take it home and give to all the homeless people on my walk home. Here I am working at a company that charges $5 for a cup of coffee, we make slightly over min wage and the company throws away food like it is nothing. There are people out there starving. Digging through dumpsters. Why can’t I give it to them vs putting it in the dumpster? I am so frustrated….

[angelisland]

My store donates all our expired pastries to a local food pantry. Also, a venti coffee is less than 2.50$, not 5$. As far as min wage goes, you are being paid appropriately. You could be one of those homeless people on your walk home. Be grateful.

[mike]

Two former baristas have taken over Galileo Cafe....a Italian coffee shop. They left Sbux due to changes and now are starting the next wave of cafe to compete. Not a coffee shop but a cafe. 15 year track record of FRESH pastries, a REAL oven to bake bread daily and many times a 'sorry' we sold out of that. Check it out in McCormick Ranch arizona.

[FormerDallasSM]

I came here after several months away since my interest in the company is next to zero. However, I want to thank you for helping me with some difficult times during the transformational agenda time period when I was a SM. You may never comprehend how important this site was in 07-09 to the partners at the time.

Thanks For all you did.

Erik

[BAYAREABUX]

RIP Starbucks Gossip. I've moved on and the site has as well. During the 5 years I worked for the Bux this site fed my passion and, at times, outrage.

There were many laugh out loud moments when I've certainly spilled my cup of joe.

Like the hilarious drink orders -- "I'll have an Earl Grey with whip"

Oh, Starbucks. Could anything be more American?