Starbucks Plans to Open in South Boston

The global coffee chain Starbucks seems to be located everywhere in the Boston area, but one neighborhood that does not yet have a shop is South Boston. That may soon change, however.

Adam's Hospitality & Tourism Industry Blog reports that Starbucks is going before the Boston Licensing Board this morning, seeking a Common Victualler's License to operate at 11 West Broadway by the Broadway T station. This is the same building that will be home to a new location of Stephanie's--which we reported on a couple of months ago--as well as a number of residential units.

Technically, Starbucks does have locations in South Boston, but their three shops are in the Seaport District (at the Westin Boston Waterfront hotel, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront hotel, and Manulife Financial) rather than in the heart of the South Boston neighborhood that Broadway cuts through.

The address for this planned Starbucks in South Boston is: Starbucks, 11 West Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.starbucks.com/

[Earlier Article]
Stephanie's to Open in South Boston


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News Elsewhere: Starbucks to Open a Location within a Funeral Home

The global chain Starbucks seems to be everywhere these days, but now it looks like a branch of the coffee shop will soon be coming to a particularly unusual location--a funeral home.

ABC News is reporting that the Robinson Funeral Home in Easley, SC is going to have a Starbucks "Coffee Corner" that will include a fireplace, TV, and wi-fi, and though it is meant for folks attending the funeral home itself, it will also be open to the public by way of a separate patio entrance.

Chris Robinson, who owns the funeral home, says that "you won’t be hit in the face with it," and he has an agreement with Starbucks that there will be no trademark glowing green sign out front.

The coffee shop should be up and running sometime this month, according to ABC News.


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Starbucks to Offer Free Wi-Fi Starting in July

The global coffee chain Starbucks has announced today that it will be bringing free Wi-Fi to its customers starting July 1. According to the Washington Post and several other sources, the coffee giant, which had already started to provide two free hours of Wi-Fi a day to those with Starbucks cards, will also be starting something called the Starbucks Digital Network this fall, which will allow customers to access news and entertainment sites such as the New York Times and iTunes for free.

Starbucks joins a number of competing chains that already offer free Wi-Fi to patrons, including Cosi, Panera, and Caribou. Free access will apparently be available in all Starbucks stores, including the more than 100 that presently exist in the Boston area.

For more information on the introduction of free Wi-Fi to Starbucks customers, please go to the Washington Post link below.

Starbucks caves, will make WiFi free July 1

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Starbucks to Start Selling Instant Coffee

The global coffee chain Starbucks is now in the instant coffee business. According to CNN and several other sources, the company will offer a "ready brew" coffee named Via throughout its U.S. locations beginning today.

CNN mentions 40% of all global coffee sales are instant coffee, making it a potentially huge market for Starbucks. And since the struggling economy has led many coffee drinkers to forgo the higher-priced Starbucks coffees in favor of cheaper cups at other chains, the move into instant coffee may help Starbucks bring back customers.

According to the CNN article, Via will cost around $1.00 for a cup, with an option of getting a pack of 12 cup-size servings for just under $10.00.

Starbucks is the largest coffee shop chain in the world, with more than 10,000 stores across the country, including over 100 in and around Boston.

For more information on the introduction of instant coffee to Starbucks, please go to the CNN link below.

Starbucks unveils its instant brew

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