Caribou closings (Starbuck: sale, coupon, buying)

[jimbond]

Originally Posted by Astron1000

So I hope you agree that every Florida, California or Hawaii business that uses a "beach" theme is also "lame."

That every New York-themed establishment that uses the Chrysler Building and the Statue of Liberty or their god-forsaken subway system is "lame."

Every French establishment that references the Louvre is "lame."

Every Indian restaurant that uses a painting of the Ganges is "lame."

Every Egyptian business that uses a desert theme is "lame."

Every Italian business that uses a red and green color combination is "lame."

Every American establishment that uses either the Washington Monument, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the Golden Gate bridge, the Space Needle, the Gateway Arch, the Capitol, etc... is also "lame."

Thanks for your insight. It's provincially priceless.

Yes, those themes are lame and lack creativity. They are called Tourist Traps. You probably post many Facebook pictures of yourself at just such places.

[Beenhere4ever]

Yeh, that "false ambience" is designed to lure idiots.

[iNviNciBL3]

Caribou, Bruegger's to launch shared stores - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

Seems like a good idea, only been to Bruegger's a few times and it was very good.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by iNviNciBL3

Caribou, Bruegger's to launch shared stores - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

Seems like a good idea, only been to Bruegger's a few times and it was very good.

They already have shared stores, have for years....

[xandrex]

Originally Posted by golfgal

They already have shared stores, have for years....

It seems the article says they used to co-located and they have a few shared locations, but that this is a dramatic expansion of that with further integration.

It doesn't sound like a bad idea. Getting Caribou and a delicious bagel in the same location sounds nice.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by xandrex

It seems the article says they used to co-located and they have a few shared locations, but that this is a dramatic expansion of that with further integration.

It doesn't sound like a bad idea. Getting Caribou and a delicious bagel in the same location sounds nice.

The one's I have been in have "separate" stores but the wall between the two have been open so you can drift between the two quite easily. There is one in Burnsville that I've been to quite often.

[Rhody2Mn]

Originally Posted by golfgal

The one's I have been in have "separate" stores but the wall between the two have been open so you can drift between the two quite easily. There is one in Burnsville that I've been to quite often.

Yes, the one in Woodbury near the corner of Valley Creek Road and Radio Drive is also set up in that manner.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by jimbond

Though Peet's has excellent cold press. I hope they open a few Peet's in Minneapolis.

BTW - The Caribou "Northwoods" theme is lame. I never understood Minnesotans who feel the need to put tacky ducks, moose, and outdoorsy northwoods pine crap all over their houses. You know where I go to see that kind of stuff? The woods.

The northwoods theme idea stems from a trip the founders made to Alaska. It has nothing to do with Minnesota. Sometimes we see what we want to see.

[Radical_Car]

Originally Posted by Globe199

Dunn Bros is the only chain in town that makes decent cold press IMHO. People who really like good coffee don't go to Starbucks or Caribou. They make coffee at home.

Agreed.
I like my coffee black! Call it boring, but its what I love.
A cheap french press and a cheap coffee grinder, and I am set. It's all I need. Get some cheap coffee beans from Walmart or Target and grind them before you use them.

And if I am feeling lazy I use my regular cheap $10-15 drip coffee maker with Folgers or Maxwell House or whatever cheap coffee grounds I have.

If I need a cup of coffee when I am out and about, I just stop at Mcdonalds or a gas station. Heck Holiday Gas stations has a cheap 49 cent 20 oz coffee coupon on their website you can print. I been printing those coupons off that website for quite a while now. http://www.holidaystationstores.com/.../products.aspx
Sure maybe to the elite snobs the 3 dollar coffee from caribou or starbucks tastes better than the 1 dollar coffee from Mcdonalds, but to me, it's not that big of a difference and the cheap stuff from Mcdonalds or a gas station is perfectly fine, plus I don't exactly have an infinite supply of money, but how many single guys in their 20s do? That doesn't mean I don't buy coffee at places like Starbucks, nor does it mean I hate them. Not at all.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by pete6032

What do you guys make of it? Has Caribou not adapted to its customer base or did the chain just grow too fast? I'm disappointed to see all these closings and the rebranding to Peets coffee. Do people outside the midwest just not take to the North Woods theme of the stores?

I was never into the woodsy look, but I do like the coffee(based on prior experience). It is quite good. I like Starbucks too. I think the problem is this. One thing I've noticed in the Atlanta area is that there aren't that many locations. 4 locations closed this past Sunday in the Atlanta area. One of them was the Marietta location(on Powers Ferry). That was the last one I went to. Caribou Coffee is fewer and far between in Atlanta compared to Starbucks. Starbucks is everywhere in Atlanta, and it's more well known, and for that reason, more people flock to it. What I notice about Caribou is that it doesn't attract as many young people, but more people in their 30s(at least the locations I've been too).