Starbucks Starbucks, along with its partner Delek Group of Israel, closed all six of its locations in Israel, citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment." The Starbucks location in the former imperial palace in Beijing closed in July 2007. The coffee shop had been a source of ongoing controversy since its opening in 2000 with protesters objecting that the presence of the American chain in this location "was trampling on Chinese culture." In July 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 underperforming company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty. On July 29, 2008, Starbucks
Referral chain Motels (1947) was founded as a similar referral chain of independent western US motels. Other referral chains included "Superior Courts United" (1950, renamed "A Superior Motel" in 1964, last membership renewals 1979) whose four-leaf clover logo ("Travel Superior Courts United Inc. And Be Sure!") graced over 500 motels (mostly on the Atlantic coast) in the mid-1960s. Quality Courts was converted to a franchise operation in 1963, ending a long-running cross-promotion in which Best Western (a western US referral chain) and Quality Courts (originally an eastern US referral chain) were largely marketed together. The brand still exists as franchised Quality Inn,