I frequently travel and mostly I am by myself and when I launched this company nearly five years ago, I found the wireless internet at Starbucks a necessary asset. In LA, I would hit the Starbucks on Sepulveda Blvd. in El Segundo, often I would just pull into the parking lot and open my laptop and sign on. I would get my mail and read it and respond while waiting for my next meeting. In New York City, I would stop at various Starbucks and when colleagues would call me they would say “Where are you?” I would reply Starbucks and they would say, “Oh your office.” It became a running joke amongst my friends. The funny this is, I seldom bought coffee as I was in such a rush. So, I really was not a good customer. Now that my business is up and running successfully, there are less “office” visits to Starbucks and more coffee stops and this is the real subject today. Why does it take Starbucks so long to serve a cup of coffee? I can be almost anywhere in the world and encounter a long line and it is not just for specialty drinks. I stopped at a Starbucks in Towson, MD and counted six employees behind the counter. Granted it had a drive-through, but, in line were 5 people and there seemed to be little or no movement. When I finally got my coffee, just coffee mind you, all the pitchers of half and half, milk and whatever other white liquid were empty. With six people these cannot be filled? Travelers are on the go and the coffee is not that good. Lastly, in those internet days, I found that even though a Starbucks was a welcome spot for email, it is the noisiest and often time dirtiest place to be. The worst for noise has to be Starbucks on Madison Avenue and about 46th Street. And the worst for cleanliness is probably the one at Grand Central Station, there I have to battle the homeless for a seat. I just had to vent about my venti! -Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO