Becker Business Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode Title: Starbucks: Say it Isn’t So
Host: Scott Becker
Date: September 30, 2025
Overview
In this episode of the Becker Business Podcast, Scott Becker discusses the recent closure of a local Starbucks, reflecting on the wider business challenges facing the global coffee giant. Using his own community as an example, Becker delves into the impact of local competition and broader shifts in the coffee shop landscape, offering a personal perspective on change in a familiar market.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Starbucks Scale and Global Presence
- Starbucks has roughly 40,000 global locations.
- About 18,000–21,000 stores are in the US.
- An equal number exist internationally.
- In comparison, Peet’s Coffee operates only about 370 stores, with coffee shops making up a small part of Peet’s larger conglomerate.
“There are now about 40,000 Starbucks in the world, and I think about about 18 to 21,000 are in the US and 18 to 21,000 of those are... international.”
— Scott Becker [00:24]
Current Starbucks Challenges
- Starbucks is planning to close many stores and reduce labor staff in response to market pressure.
- The CEO, previously with Chipotle, is under tremendous pressure to keep Starbucks relevant and successful.
“They've got this great CEO that came over from Chipotle who has got tremendous pressure on him to make Starbucks relevant and go and win and work.”
— Scott Becker [01:05]
Local Coffee Shop Competition
- Becker shares a personal account: the local Starbucks down the block has announced closure, even after 25 years in operation.
- The main reason: competition from a local coffee shop (“Hometown Coffee”) that has become exceptionally popular.
- The Starbucks location saw multiple management turnovers and consistent underperformance before finally closing.
“Our most local store, the one down the block from us, is closing. It got hammered by a local coffee shop that opened up that just knocked it out of the park... Sadly, it had been there for about 25 years, but it's been through manager after manager after manager as it struggled to compete.”
— Scott Becker [01:24 & 01:48]
A Reflection on Local Coffee History
- Other once-popular coffee chains have also disappeared from the area:
- Caribou Coffee: “People probably are not familiar with anymore, that is closed.”
- Einstein’s Coffee: “Closed.”
- Hometown Coffee, operated by Lou and Julie Rubin and family, now dominates the local landscape.
“The other great coffee shop was replaced by something called Hometown Coffee, which is really just knocked it out of the park and really run by Lou and Julie Rubin and family. That's our local Starbucks saga.”
— Scott Becker [02:13]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On store closures and competition:
“Sadly, it had been there for about 25 years, but it's been through manager after manager after manager as it struggled to compete with the other local coffee shop.”
— Scott Becker [01:48] -
On the resilience of local business:
“Hometown Coffee… just knocked it out of the park and really run by Lou and Julie Rubin and family.”
— Scott Becker [02:13]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:24 – Starbucks and Peet’s scale comparison
- 01:05 – Pressure on Starbucks’ new CEO
- 01:24 – Local Starbucks store closure announcement
- 01:48 – Reflections on declining performance and management churn
- 02:13 – Rise of Hometown Coffee and legacy of local shops
Tone and Style
Scott Becker’s commentary is factual, conversational, and tinged with nostalgia for the local businesses that have come and gone. He shares insights with a mix of business acumen and genuine personal involvement, using accessible language and personal anecdotes to connect the macro (global business trends) with the micro (community-level impact).
Summary Prepared for Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode is a succinct, personal look at how even massive chains like Starbucks are not immune to grassroots competition and changing consumer tastes—and how local businesses, with the right touch, can thrive in today’s market.