Economy Thwarts Man's Goal Of Visiting Every Starbucks On Planet
I was impressed when I heard that someone managed to visit every Starbucks store in Manhattan in one day. There were 171 at the time. Then I learned about Winter, who takes Starbucks-visiting to a whole new level, aiming to visit every Starbucks in the world (9,000 to date.) Not in a single day, or even in a single year, but still an ambitious goal that attracts some media attention.
A decline in the company's fortunes has made his project more difficult. Winter struggles to visit stores slated for closing before they're gone like a bowl of oatmeal placed before Captain Duvel Moneycat.*
The Wall Street Journal profiled Winter and his quest earlier this week.
Winter says he spends about 25% of his earnings, and three months of travel a year, on coffee runs. He declines to say how much he makes but says it would be "six figures" if he worked all year. Though whim and cheap flights have long directed his travel, now he says he plots his trips to hit the most shops. "The thought of the one store I skip being the one that closes is a bit unbearable," he says.
Starbucks is trying to slow the pace of store closings, and leverage the bad economy and real estate market into rent reductions of up to 25%.
Starbucks Everywhere
A Fan Hits a Roadblock on Drive to See Every Starbucks [Wall Street Journal] (via Table Hopping)
Starbucks Pushing Landlords for 25% Cut in Cafe Rents [Bloomberg]
(Photo: louisabate)
* - If you're a new reader and/or don't get the reference, click here to meet Mr. Moneycat.
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Comments:
This guy just has way too much time on his hands.
Did he have 171 cups of coffee on the day he visited every starbucks in manhattan?
"Then the company started shutting stores -- first announcing 100 closures, then another 500 last July, and 300 more early this year."
I don't know why-- but I like the use of "shutting" instead of shuttering which I wouldn't say out loud.
@youbastid: Well, he does still live with his parents. And he's in his late 30s. And he changed his name...to Winter (by which his parents refuse to call him). So money isn't really the first issue here!
I am all for people doing what they want with their own money... spending it how they see fit.
But why?
Starbucks???
Is a $3.00 cup of chain coffee really that special that you want to be known as the guy who went to every Starbucks in on the planet???
When he finishes with Starbucks, he's going to start on McDonalds.
@pecan 3.14159265: Bingo, there are just so many other things going on to sort out than the logic of this.
I was wondering what happened to the Captain Duvel Moneycat.
That is the most worthless goal I have ever heard! It is really no accomplishment, doesn't require skill, is not even enjoyable. This guy must be empty.
Hey, I was at the Starkbucks in the picture a few times. Not all that surprised that one closed, since it wasn't situated close to the nearby malls.
I don't suppose we need to ask if there's a capital "L" tattooed on Winter's forehead.
I've devoted myself to defecating in the bathrooms of every Shell gas station in the world myself...
@frank64: Keep in mind that it gets him some level of notoriety (here we are talking about him, after all), and he's traveling all over the world, which many people would enjoy just in its own right.
Winter=Cold, Cold=Coffee, so his name is totally legit.
@Trick: If you had to pick one chain where they have a huge number of stores everywhere around the world, I think Starbucks isn't a bad choice.
I mean other than Starbucks, I guess McDonald's would be a good choice.
But I'd rather drink a short coffee at each Starbucks instead of eating a cheeseburger or something at each McDonald's.
Wonder what his opinion would be on the "best" Starbucks in the world taste-wise, service-wise, and aesthetic-wise.
@Megalomania: Hes traveling, but not seeing anything other than coffee anymore. He came to Hawaii, and didn't go to a beach...I mean I hate being in the sun on most days but I get my butt to the beach here becasue its so irresistible.
I don't personally find Winter's mission of visiting every Starbucks appealing, especially because I don't drink coffee, but I also don't understand on what basis many of you criticize him.
Any activity, even the most sacred "worthwhile" activities in our culture, ie. raising children, are effectively based on arbitrary preferences - his activity is no different other than being less popular.
Second, be a little reflexive people, you are commenting on the message board of a blog, so by many people's standards you aren't exactly living life to the fullest (I understand I fall into this category as well, hence why I don't judge Winter).
He was on the Today Show on Sunday. He answered the question as to what he thinks is the best store.
And to youbastid: Winter admits in the Today Show interview that his quest will be pretty much impossible now to finish. He started doing this when Starbucks was relatively unknown and had yet to expand to the level they are at now.
It appears to be a hobby for him now, when he has time off work -- a quest with no foreseeable end.
Eh. I wouldn't knock him too much. He's a guy with an odd goal. At least he is working towards his goal. So many people in this world set goals for themselves and then give up before they even start on them. We should give Winter kudos for at least attempting to complete his goal.
@Trick: He doesn't really spend any money at each Starbucks...he requests the little sample cup of coffee.
OCD takes a holiday.
@sonneillon: thanks for that, saves me the trouble of tracking it down :P
when idip mentioned 100 cups of coffee, that episode immediately came to mind
@azntg: I'm concerned that he was kidnapped by the Mormans, who have imprisoned him in the penthouse suite of a Vegas casino, and are feeding him only chocolate cake and milk.
(sob!)
Until I see documentary photographic evidence, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
If this guy wants to do something impressive......manage to keep yourself OUT of any Starbucks for as long as possible. Overpriced, mediocre coffee never seem so foolish as it does in this economy.
After 10-15 years of buying expensive whole bean coffee, I am back to using Maxwell House at home and I couldn't be happier. Breaking the grasp of expensive coffee was tough, but soooooo worth it. Now if there Dunkin Donuts out here in California I would be in trouble.......
I have never been in a Starbucks. Not once. Not even a kiosk.
Nor have I ever drunk any of their coffee or bought any Starbucks products.
I drink instant coffee in the mornings because I can make one cup quickly. I like the Nestle Mexican kind. My mom gave me a little tiny Mr. Coffee so now I can get ground coffee.
Go here:
[www.santacruzcoffee.com]
I drank the SH*T out of this when I lived in Santa Cruz.
Isn't this pretty much impossible, money issues aside? I mean, a number of new stores open up every day, on every corner of the planet.