I agree, and I'm assuming you actually mean that the impact of having a coffee shop in each location is huge. Borders failed at this, they originally ran their own coffee shops, then outsourced it to Seattle's Best. BN outsourced coffee while Borders outsourced the web business.

I have never been able to understand the fascination with Starbucks in BN. At my local BN, it's noisy, small tables, and no power outlets available. Can't do that.

Also, Peet's is so much better than Starbucks.

> Also, Peet's is so much better than Starbucks.

This is only relevant if there's a Peet's anywhere near you. This is untrue at the majority of places I've been to with a BN.

Every Australian Borders store has a Gloria Jeans... And they independantly went into recievership 2 days after the US company did.

I think the Australia situation is actually worse, they don't even come close to competing on price, given their volumes aren't high enough compared to big US operations. So at the high prices stocking the long tail isn't very appealing at all now, you can usually get books from the book depository for a heap cheaper within a week, and that's before you factor in ebooks.

Starbucks is not the only coffee chain on the planet. Are people really that addicted to Starbucks coffee specifically?

Here in Germany a big chain, Hugendubel, partners with "World Coffee" (I think), and imo they are actually better than Starbucks. In any case they are sufficient to provide a cosy atmosphere for checking out some books.

Also, how difficult is it to get a Starbucks, don't they jump any opportunity for opening another Starbucks, even if there already is one across the street?

> Starbucks is not the only coffee chain on the planet. Are people really that addicted to Starbucks coffee specifically?

In most of America, sadly, the answer is yes.

What people are addicted to, is a menu they know at a familiar place. Starbucks wins because it's familiar, not because it's any better; it's the brand, not the coffee.

Also, coffee and tea are drinks that people will accept even if they aren't exactly a person's preferred style/flavor.

People will order and drink coffee at any restaurant when the choice is generic coffee vs. decaf. Brand certainly helps but many people, even picky, will drink a brown liquid called coffee anywhere, if the primary objective is conversation, reading, etc.

The irony of this is that Starbucks, in a way, owns Seattle's Best.

Granted, it's about brand attraction, but eh, funny nonetheless.