Is their a starbucks on the Island??
Thx!

No, thank God. You can get a meal for what they charge for a coffee. You'll have to enjoy Dunkin Donuts instead.

no.

The day Starbucks comes to Aruba is the day I stop going. This is from a guy who has been going to Aruba for over 30 years.
There is no more a pretentious place on the planet.

No, and there won't be one.
Just down there and heard they will not be any Starbucks. (let's not get Aruba too Americanized)

There is SOOOOOO much better coffee to be had around the world.....Starbuck's, in my humble opinion, is highly over-rated for bitter, nasty coffee at rip-off prices.

Joe, Maryb,
There was a time that a group was flirting with the idea, however they have not continued with it. Same goes for some other franchises.

It becomes obvious (at last and thank the lord) that the tourists are preferring to go to places like Madame Jeanette (for example) rather than Hooters.


There was an interesting congress some years back and one of the speakers did something I liked very much. He had a two hour lecture about "Surboards in the Sahara". It had to do with keeping destination and cultural identities in tact for those who travel miles to come and se them. When he finished I think he had to stand up on the podium for at least 15 minutes for the applause to finally stop.

It sent a strong message

charles
arubafastphones.com

americanized?? lets see what americanizes aruba?, the mcdonalds, or the the burger king???? hmmm wait or maybe the taco bell, nah thats not it its definetly the kentucky fried chicken!!!!!!!!!

although dunkin donuts says to me INTERNATIONAL as there is not a d and d in the states where an american works

32 million people patronized Starbucks in 2004. I love their coffee. Its like good quality wine not the rock gut. Once you get used to the best, you only want the best. D&D in Aruba is waterery or strong and nothing in between.
I'd love to have one/millionth of what Starbucks takes in. The bulk of their business is, repeat customers!
Its always amusing to read someone who works a lifetime to make what a major league star makes in a yr. and that person is sitting in the cheap seats calling him a bum.
Forget the coffee, would anyone like to have a business that takes in the $'s Starbuck takes in? lololololol

Ed,
There may be an other way of looking at it. Alot of what we see and call "Americanized" has alot to do with cultural changes and convenience. Aruba used to practically shut down from noon to 2PM. In those days, God forbid you died during those hours. IN any case, life has changed and our cultural norms aren't what they used to be. Where homes on Aruba were family meeting places - today the work load and competetive situation in our market makes it that a quick grab or bite is just what is needed.

I am not real sure that "Americanization" is a fair term. It could have a negative conatation (which in this case is certainly not the case). Perhaps "keeping with the global pace" might be a kinder way to describe it. In any event, the Macs and BKings serve a purpose even though their presence might be alarming and oddly enough, they are frequented mostly by locals.

Another way to look at it would be : When the PIZZA hit the market in the USA, the country certainly wasn't ITALIANIZED.

Charles
arubafastphones.com