"You've Caught the NET!"

THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!

. . . Realtors, folks!  That was the word I was thinking of here.  Realtors!

Believe me, I mean no offense to Chicago's Finest, but if there is a stereotype for them, there is surely one for us!  It's our local Starbucks - the one down the street from our office, on Wilson Avenue at Lincoln, in Chicago's Lincoln Square Neighborhood.

I am a Real Estate Broker, you know - so I am qualified to comment here.  Indeed, I am the only Licensed Pekingese in the entire State of Illinois.  I'm not counting the Beagle who does commercial appraisals out in Arlington Heights, or the lady Great Dane, up in years now - she is almost 9 - handling leases in Hyde Park.

But, me, as a Real Estate Practitioner, seem to know what the Human Members of Our Profession drink every day like it was going out of style!  Double Skim No-Fat Lattes, Cafe Americanos, Grande Mochas, Frappuccinos in the Summertime.  Whew!

I don't know what you Humans see in this stuff!  One time, while working outside, my Human Dad, Team Leader Dean, left his Starbucks Tall Coffee of the Day, black, on the sidewalk. I took a quick lick - he never knew it when he finished the cup.  But - woof - NASTY!  I'd prefer a hunk of roast beef, anytime!

Well, it seems in an effort to rev up flagging sales at Starbucks locations nationwide, the company, at its Annual Shareholders Meeting this week in Seattle, will be making a few enhancements in its stores.

According to Howard Schultz, Starbuck's CEO, each store will begin to grind its own beans once again - like they did in the old days when they first started.  Today, drip coffee is pre-packaged in a filter pack, and that all-important Starbucks Aroma is nearly lost.

Their introducing a new, more flavorful "Pike Place Roast."  The original Starbucks store, in 1969, was located at Seattle's famous Pike Place Market.

And they will begin to install semi-automated Espresso Machines - The Mastrena- to more consistently and more predictably make their signature espresso drinks.  These machines, shorter than the old ones, will allow the baristas in each store to more easily interact with their customers - and talk Market Trends with those customers who happen to trade in Real Estate for a living.

Starbucks also purchased a small, eleven-person coffee machine manufacturer in Seattle - Coffee Equipment Company - and their patented machine, The Clover.   This high-end coffeemaker brews one cup at a time, quickly, with full flavor, and aroma!

Over the last few years, Starbuck's Share Price has fallen precipitously - from around $90 a couple of years ago, to $17.50 at close on the NASDAQ last Wednesday.   Apparently, they want to shine things up to the way they once were, in hopes of improving their profit picture.

And, in the meanwhile, make thousands of Realtors happier each morning when they pick up their morning java.

Check out our post today at BlogChicagoHomes.com.  It provides more information, as well as a link for more details to Janet Adamy's article in today's Wall Street Journal.  For relevant video, read the AP story in today's Chicago Tribune.

BTW - look for me each morning this Summer, tied up to some wrought-iron outdoor furniture, in front of the Lincoln Square Starbucks.  I would be waiting for my Human Daddy, Team Leader Dean, getting his morning coffee fix inside.  It's easy to recognize me - I'll be wearing white, reading the Red Eye, and NOT drinking black coffee!

YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,

BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO