It looks as though the cancer known as Starbucks has finally grown to exceed the carrying capacity of the earth. The highly caffeinated corporate behemoth announced today that 600 stores would be closed in the coming months. This comes after an extended period of frenetic growth. (Over 70% of the company’s now ubiquitous stores were opened in the last 2.5 years.)

I guess the economy finally caught up to the chain. As addicted as people are, they’ve got to draw the line somewhere, and I guess the $4 coffees probably have to go before meat and potatoes. (Word is that Dunkin Donuts is picking up a lot of the business, as people wanting to pay their mortgages reluctantly concede that the method of drug delivery isn’t all that important.)

While I think, on the whole, this is a good thing for our country, and for independent coffee shops everywhere, it sucks for all of the employees of the emerald mermaid being jettisoned in the process. Starbucks, while responsible for contributing to the homogeneity that threatens our country, wasn’t the worst of employers. They were, from what I understand, generous with benefits, allowing even part-time workers access to healthcare. As with everything else these days, it’s a complicated issue. All things considered, however, I’m glad that we’ve reached what looks like the end of the expansion. (My hope is that a lot of their vacated stores will evolve into privately owned coffee shops. Hopefully, some will even be started by the Starbucks employees being let go.)

[The image presented here is a piece called “Consumer Whore” by Kieron Dwyer. It was among the works of art included in the Illegal Art show put together by Carrie McClaren a few years ago, which I’ve written about here in the past.]