Subway to Test Coffee Shops in D.C.
Starbucks may be closing 600 stores, but the coffee competition is just startin' to brew. Subway will begin testing a café concept in Washington, D.C. by adding espresso drinks, gelato, and paninis to their sandwich menu. The Subway Cafés will be also be larger, and like many other coffee shops, have comfy seating and Wi-Fi.
Subway insists they're not looking to get into the coffee house business: the cafés are intended to be placed in office buildings in big cities, not for the shops scattered in rural areas. That said, Subway has 22,000 locations across the U.S.—more than any other fast food chain—so there's potential that this could successfully kick off.
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6 Comments:
Big deal, more designer coffee. Oh and take heed, Subway. It takes more than a sandwhich press and Italian cold cuts to make a good panini.
RichardCrystal at 1:01PM on 07/16/08
I'm not a coffee person but my sweetie is -- and there are no shortage of places in Seattle to get a good latte or other coffee drink without going to a Starbuck's - just in the immediate quarter mile area. Tully's, Peet's, SBC (owned by Starbuck's) and numberous independent espresso joints are throughout the area. Her fave is the lovely little one-location real espresso Monkey Grind in our Greenwood District where they also have pastries and sandwiches (and are doing wine nights once a week).
Of course, Seattle is a special case and espresso central in the USA.
I suppose that smaller communities might view McDonald's, Dunkin Donut or Subway coffee improvement as a benefit to them.
I guess...
Stushi at 2:16PM on 07/16/08
If these new cafes have that same nauseating "freshly baking bread" smell that Subway sprays emanates, I'll be sure to steer clear.
AkashG at 2:43PM on 07/16/08
Yeah, right. That's where I'm going for good coffee - a chain/fast food restaurant. No matter how much "comfy seating" they add to a Subway, IT'S STILL A SUBWAY!
I can't imagine that there aren't good indies in the DC area. People who tend to go to fast food places want....um, fast food. The idea of settling into a fast food joint to enjoy my double latte just baffles me. No matter what they're selling, these places are meant for fast in/out, plastic, bright, shiny and quick. I do go to lots of coffee places where coffee is the primary menu item, not an afterthought. The design, the focus, the customer service is different in a coffee house/shop/cafe. I doubt very much that the Subway staffers would greet me a second time with "double tall?" or "the usual?" the way my local espresso cafe owner and her employees does and did from the start. (and yep, that's me, the Seattle coffee fan as referred to up there!)
Fluffnik at 2:44PM on 07/16/08
Eww. A Subway panini. Maybe they should wait to make those until they get subs right.
aharste at 3:30PM on 07/16/08
I'm fortunate enough to live by places selling Bahn Mi, I haven't had a sub since.
Tonecat at 11:55PM on 07/17/08