The bellweather stock I will watch to see how the US and global economy is doing

My grocery getter gal is an avid coffee drinker. We have no Starbucks in my small town. There is a drive-thru only small joint though.
I was with her twice, when she stopped for some fancy coffee and choked on the cost. It was over $8 for a big cup!

This is for a gal that is lucky to pay her bills! She has priority's wrong. Told her to drive to Casey's and get a cup for $2. Some people never get it. But the place always has 10 cars or so in line in the AM. Must be working for them.
 
Been a long time since I've been in a SB's but IIRC it was $2 for a cup of regular coffee. I used to like it, as I prefer dark roast, but these days have moderated a bit, and some gas stations have decent name brand coffee.

But I hate waiting in line and will go out of my to do so.

If the economy slows and I have to stretch my dollar... Dollar General will get even less of my money. Or the same amount, as I could not spend less there. Usually their stuff is low quality or just a smaller box at a higher price per unit. No desire.

GON said:
I just read an article Warren Buffet, one of the world's top 25 wealthiest individuals, often eats at McDonald's for breakfast.
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Well, he can afford to, that's for sure. And to be honest, a lot of places have low cost items, Starbucks included. When we eat out as a family, I often look to see what my cheapest option is.
 
I get a Pike's Place 16oz (Grande) at my local SB for about $3.75.
Usually while on the road I buy the watered down crap at gas stations so it is nice to get a real coffee at SB once in awhile.
 
GON said:
Please let me know about the dollar menu or its equivelant at Starbucks. I seemed to have missed it.
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Beats me, I haven't gone there in a while. 10 years ago they had regular coffee for $1.95/ea. $2 is not that expensive anymore.

Don't think I've ever gotten pastries there, never cheap to get stuff like that there.
 
brianl703 said:
My suspicion is that he's not unique, a lot of people in his age range spend their money at Starbucks even if they really shouldn't.
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I haven't researched and may be wrong, but I strongly suspect Starbuck's doesn't search for new locations that are high in SSI only income residents. I have been wrong before........ but my gut tells me that is not Starbuck's center of gravity for customers or locations.
 
supton said:
Beats me, I haven't gone there in a while. 10 years ago they had regular coffee for $1.95/ea. $2 is not that expensive anymore.

Don't think I've ever gotten pastries there, never cheap to get stuff like that there.
Click to expand...
Maybe you should go visit a Starbucks and post your findings.
 
A new Starbucks was built in my neighborhood (right on the edge). High traffic volume, high school one block away, solid income neighborhoods with home values in the upper 25% in this town. So, it seems they are building them only in areas of suspected sustained spending. The Starbucks we had downtown closed last year. The one in my neighborhood opened shortly after that closure.
 
Jdeere562 said:
My grocery getter gal is an avid coffee drinker. We have no Starbucks in my small town. There is a drive-thru only small joint though.
I was with her twice, when she stopped for some fancy coffee and choked on the cost. It was over $8 for a big cup!

This is for a gal that is lucky to pay her bills! She has priority's wrong. Told her to drive to Casey's and get a cup for $2. Some people never get it. But the place always has 10 cars or so in line in the AM. Must be working for them.
Click to expand...
Only person that I really know that drank Starbux regularly was my old neighbor. The house was a rental and they volunteered that they were living there until they could build back up their credit to buy a house. Her Escape had over 250k miles and needed a new engine, they couldn't afford it. She always had a Starbux cup in her hand......
 
GON said:
I haven't researched and may be wrong, but I strongly suspect Starbuck's doesn't search for new locations that are high in SSI only income residents. I have been wrong before........ but my gut tells me that is not Starbuck's center of gravity for customers or locations.
Click to expand...

They probably do not, but SSI income residents are found nearly everywhere. I'm not sure what their criteria is... one of, if not the, newest Starbuck's around here is in a city (Manassas, VA) where the local schools have 45% of their children on "free and reduced price" lunches.
 
Jdeere562 said:
My grocery getter gal is an avid coffee drinker. We have no Starbucks in my small town. There is a drive-thru only small joint though.
I was with her twice, when she stopped for some fancy coffee and choked on the cost. It was over $8 for a big cup!

This is for a gal that is lucky to pay her bills! She has priority's wrong. Told her to drive to Casey's and get a cup for $2. Some people never get it. But the place always has 10 cars or so in line in the AM. Must be working for them.
Click to expand...

Yep, a lot people don't have a reasonable understanding of economics, even at the micro level. Your gal pal's spending practices reminded me of this IBM commercial from back in the day.

 
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I always watch truck traffic and freight train traffic. The frequency and length of freight trains is a good indicator of the state of the economy. I live near the Norfolk and Southern lines....about a mile away and can count the trains by listening for their signals as they cross an road intersection. Also. the number of trucks on the interstates (I-81 is a prime example) is also a good indicator. If number of trucks is lessening, you can bet the economy is headed south!

But I must agree with GON.... Starbucks should be a great indicator of how the upper class is feeling financially.
 
If they keep length the same in a recession, the number of trains will decrease. It is really number of train cars moving around.
 
Family likes to go to starburnts. We only go on vacation, and occasionally when bored. Our bill for 4 is routinely over $30 bucks. Gotta get snacks. I recommend the lemon pound cake, the coffee cake, or the egg and cheese muffin if your hungry. Yes is a huge rip off. Its the ambiance like paying $100 for a steak before the potato at Ruth Chris. Kids like it so I go. They are smart enough to stay away when Dad isn't paying.

I wouldn't use it as a macro gauge. The younger generation will cut many things before their overpriced coffee, much like Coca-Cola - if your one that has to have it, you'll pay. Better gauge is rail traffic like @wings&wheels mentioned, or LTL truck rates, or UPS/Fedex volume, or gasoline usage, or the traffic at walmart grocery vs kroger, etc.
 
Starbucks at 8809 Centreville Rd, Manassas, VA is just 1.2 miles from Dollar General at 8300 Centreville Rd, Manassas Park, VA.

Does anyone else live near a place where these two stores are so close together?

EDIT: Found an even closer pair, Starbucks, 4471 Cheshire Station Plaza Cheshire Station Shopping Center, Dale City, VA 22193 and Dollar General, 4136 Dale Blvd, Woodbridge, VA 22193

0.8 miles.
 
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