Still, the company’s strategy could backfire. Not only will
neighborhood activists and local businesses increasingly resent the
tactics, but customers could also grow annoyed over having fewer
choices. Moreover, analysts contend that Starbucks can maintain
about 15 percent square-footage growth in the United States—
equivalent to 550 new stores—for only about two more years.
After that, it will have to depend on overseas growth to maintain
an annual 20 percent revenue growth.