Dear Starbuck representative,
My name is Joel Hardman and I recently moved to Rome, Italy. I am shocked at the lack of a single Starbucks in the whole city of Rome, let alone the country. The prolific tourist industry would not only be able to sustain a Starbucks but also cause the retail location to flourish. I live with ten other Americans and know many others that would frequent the local on a daily basis. Also, a retail store would allow Italians to experience how great your coffee is and would provide an avenue for an ever-increasing market share here in Rome. May I suggest a few locations here in Rome for your consideration? 1) Spagna- near the Spanish steps a great tourist sight and a great setting for an amazing caramel macchiato. 2) Pantheon- a beautiful evening stroll into this piazza would be topped off by a warm Sumatra brew. 3) Piazza Navona - a gorgeous open space allowing a quiet morning read of the newspaper or your favorite classical novel over a vanilla latte, or a great place to gather with group of friends and order a mocha frappuccino in the evening as the performers and artists fill the cool crisp air with their joyful melodies.
I hope this might inspire you to consider expanding your operations to Italy and specifically Rome. A constant influx of tourists, a large American population in Rome, and the Italian’s love of coffee would provide a great market in which you could invest.
Thank you so much for your time.
I thought you might like to know that there is not a single Starbucks in the city of Rome or in the whole country of Italy. I know, right? Shocking. Who would have thought that Starbucks would have neglected a whole people who absolutely love coffee. It wouldn’t even be that hard for Starbucks to start a franchise here, after all even the Starbucks menu is in Italian. latte, cappuccino, espresso…
With that, I thought I would write Starbucks and express my feelings and suggest a few settings in which a nice tasty brew might be enjoyed. Here is what I wrote…
Sincerely,
Joel Hardman
make my joy complete
“And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” 1 John 1:4 (NASB)
I had no idea you were suffering such deprivation!!Such a mighty sacrifice has surely been noted in heaven. Count the cost! And to top it off, these tasty beverages do not lend themselves to transatlantic shipments.
Empathetically
Mom
Joel,
They even have stores in Malaysia, I didn’t even know that there was a market in Malaysia?!? But not in Italy? What about a nice expresso con panna while taking in the view of the roman coliseum? Wow Joel, how depressing. I’ll see what I can do!
Mr David Hardman
Business and Entrepreneur Extraordinaire
Hi there,Mr. Joel. Had lunch with your mom today and she told me about this site. pretty cool. how’s the food there? watch the bread and pasta or you’re going to come home looking for liposuction! As far as this Starbucks thing goes you’ll probably find coffee there that’s tons better than Starbuck and have to write them back and tell them not to open up one there.
Are you getting many hits on your website? What a great way to stay in touch. Well, it is about 25 til six and I’m going to sign off for now.
Blessings and prayers to you all.
Uncle Dave
I’m officially boycotting Starbucks from this moment until they get one opened near you. No more. That’ll show them. Just see what happens when they realize they’re no longer receiving my $5 every month or so anymore - they’ll be hurting for sure!
Hey Joely:
I love your site! Awesome! I hate that apartment though. YIKES! Aa, bed bugs? I don’t think so. At least they’re not spiders!!!! But still…no thanks! Where can I actually write and send you mail? I may want to send $…how do I do that? Give me details!
I love you and want to VISIT!!!
Lis
Dear Joel,
I loved reading your letter to Starbucks because I could see all the places you suggested they plant a store in Rome. However, you failed to suggest a store across the street from the Coliseum. Ate lunch at a cafe there this past summer and sitting within spitting distance of the Coliseum was one of my most memorable times. It was on a street to the left side of the Coliseum as you are facing it. Looking forward to reading more about your Rome living and serving experiences. It is so neat to keep in touch with you this way.
God bless! Love you, (Please call me Carolyn now. You are old enough.
Ha, ha! Who would have thought that Italians know what good coffee is - and they have it already there! Guess what, they don’t need Starbucks. Open your eyes and enjoy the wonderful coffee places all around. If you can’t see them - go back home and enjoy your stay at Starbucks.
Master Joel,
I can’t believe all the fuss over Starbucks! The question is: Where is the Graeters!! If there is no Graeters, you might as well go jump off the curb and end it all!
Mr. Joel,
I feel your pain! Could you please forward one on behalf of “North Africa” as well?
I mean, there might not be as many Americans here, but I heard the country Jordan has a Starbucks. If Jordan can have one, certainly this country and Rome should have one, too!
Keep up the good work!
Joel,
Now who will clean my windows since you up and
left the country? They are going to be filthy by
the time you get home again.
Are they building a Starbucks yet? Next time I am
at Krogers, will drink a cup for you. Love, Grammy
“Who would have thought that Starbucks would have neglected a whole people who absolutely love coffee???”
Joel,
If you absolutely love coffee, I really wonder how you could call coffee that “muddy water” that Starbucks sells.
You are in Italy. What are you doing there? Come back to Ohio and enjoy Starbucks.
There is where coffee culture was born. Open your mind and show that you are abroad for at least a good reason: to learn some culture.
To make it easier, would you ever eat at Taco bell in Mexico City?
I really hope not, especially because it doesn’t exist. And do you wonder why? Because such companies’ products are only poor copies of the taste and flavor you can encounter in their original birthplaces.
To make it even clearer. Starbucks will never open in Italy because it wil be a fiasco. They can’t afford this to happen, since they are trying to imitate (badly) a product.
http://innovationzen.com/blog/2007/01/15/why-starbucks-is-not-present-in-italy/
Italian people consider Sturbucks disgusting. And they know a “little” about coffee, don’t you think?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060815065357AAS1aa6
So go outside, in any of the locations you named. Order a Caffe con Panna or Caffe Shakerato or Granita di Caffe’.
After such experience you will be ashamed of what you wrote here and will never step inside a Starbucks anymore, unless you are looking for a restroom.
Also, I’m sure you will never dare to call coffee Starbuck’s dirty water again.
You are so lucky to live in Italy, try to take the best out of it.