Starbucks Forbidden in Forbidden City
A Starbucks coffee shop operating inside China's Forbidden City has been booted out.
Not enough variety for the patrons/tourists.
The coffee shop was closed and the logo removed along with a neighboring souvenier shop.
Starbucks was given the option of remaining in business as long as another beverage store was permitted to sell domestic coffee.
Starbucks declined the offer.
What? Afraid of competition?
Turns out a survey of visitors from home and abroad preferred to taste some imperial food NOT
imperialistic food.
Earlier this year, a blogger from the China Central Television asked Starbucks to to get out and nearly 500,000 Internet users backed the request.
Does this smell like nationalism to anyone? A double standard? China wants to buy into other country's landmarks, but don't like when it happens at home?
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