...Continuing on the French theme, Rhonda Malleck, owner of The Fine Grind, tells us her indie coffee shop received international attention when it was featured in a recent issue of France’s Glamour Magazine.
“When they called me to do a story on The Fine Grind, I was as surprised as anyone,” said Mallek. “I thought, what could the French version of Glamour want with a six-hundred foot coffee shop in New Jersey?”
A Glamour reporter traveled from Paris to investigate Mallek’s efforts to hold her own against the explosion of Starbucks Cafés in the United States. The frenchie said Glamour was covering the story because Europeans are alarmed about the proliferation of Starbucks coffee shops, not just on “Main Street USA” but on European boulevards and avenues as well. Traditionalists have scoffed at the idea of Europeans drinking coffee from paper cups, but Starbucks recently announced a big push to expand its international operations.
Six months ago, the local hangout made national news after we reported on how the little java joint tried to take on the competition posting a Fine Grind billboard across the street from the Route 23 Starbucks.
“The reporter seemed concerned with issues about quality and the loss of independent shops,” Mallek said. “It's sad that even other countries are nervous about the Starbucks empire, but it makes me glad to know I'm not fighting alone.”
Click here for an insider's perspective on the American coffee invasion.
Meanwhile, experts are saying "drink up" - those latte's, no matter where you drink them, may help you live longer.
People vote with their cash.
If Starbucks is successful in France, I guess someone is enjoying their (BITTER) coffee.
But the French are different from us, they will pass a law banning Starbucks for "cultural" reasons.
We just scream about how many we have-- (and quietly continue to spend $3 per cup...)