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
Upper Crust (restaurant chain) Upper Crust (restaurant chain) Upper Crust is an international chain of baguette restaurants concentrated along commuter routes. The outlets are commonplace in stations and terminals. Branches are also present in some universities in the UK, including University College London. There are also branches at the central railway station in Oslo and Elkjøp Megastore Lørenskog, Norway. Since September 2008, there are also three units in Stockholm, Sweden – two at the central railway station and one at the nearby bus terminal, Cityterminalen. There is also one opening in Gothenburg Centralstationen/Nils Ericsson terminalen railway and busterminal. The company has started to expand