Jul 02

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

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Yet again, we are under another Severe Thunderstorm Warning. This one is until 1:30pm.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR … ST. LUCIE COUNTY IN FLORIDA. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SAINT LUCIE WEST.

Everyday for what seems like the past couple of weeks, a thunderstorm develops over PSL and just sits. Weird weather so far this summer. But, I guess it’s not like we couldn’t use the rain.

written by cybercjh

Jul 02

Starbucks announces it will shutter 600 US stores

Miscellaneous 1 Comment »

A month or so ago, Starbucks announced they planned to close around 100 stores in the US. Yesterday, they upped that number to 600. They haven’t released a list of the stores they plan to close, but they did say that 70% of them were opened in 2006 or later. That would be just about every Starbucks in our area.

It got me thinking about how many places there are where I live (in Port St. Lucie, FL) to get a decent cup of coffee. I got a map and generally used Tradition, St. Lucie West Blvd, US-1 and Becker Rd as the borders. Then, I counted …

  • 8 Dunkin Donuts (1 inside a Chevron, 2 inside Shell stations, 1 inside a BP and 3 free standing)
  • 6 Starbucks (1 inside the Treasure Coast Mall, 1 inside an Albertsons and 4 free standing)
  • 6 McDonalds (all free standing) - Yes, McDonalds has good coffee
  • 1 Port City Java (free standing)
  • 1 Exodus Coffee (free standing) - Have never been there, but got good reviews
  • 1 Borders Cafe (inside Border’s Books & Music)

In total, 23 places in our little corner of the earth here to get coffee drinks. And, I’m sure I forgot some other cafes.

I don’t know, but to me, that seems like coffee over-kill. Interesting to note on the map that in most cases, Starbucks seems to have positioned themselves near a Dunkin Donuts in much the same way that Burger King tries to position itself near a McDonalds. Also, the Starbucks around here seem to stay open later than the Dunkin Donuts. I’m my past experiences, Dunkin Donuts is usually open 24×7 and Starbucks closes around 10 or 11.

Thus far, I have visited 22 of the 23 locations in the 2 years I’ve lived here. I have never been to Exodus Coffee, but I’m never on Bayshore Blvd anyway. In that respect, maybe 23 locations isn’t coffee over-kill.

written by cybercjh \\ tags: , , ,