Jared A. Brock, people are behind big busnesses as well as small ones. And, there are mixtures of service with both. I know many Mom & Pop coffee places and they're awful. I can't say starbucks is my favorite, and it doesn't have to be. It stays in business because customers like what it offers.

As far as culture creation is concerned Starbucks kind of made coffee into something worth drinking in America. Decades ago when I arrived in New York the corner Greek diner sold coffee that turned grey when adding cream -- and you had to, because it was undrinkable black.

I could continue with tons of other examples, but Starbucks has not ruined everything.

Many thanks