You've gotta be kidding me! Where do you live?

Let me put this in perspective. My research shows McDonalds has about 16,000 locations. I also found Starbucks has about 7,500 locations. (This does not include grocery stores, or stores that brew and sell starbucks coffee. Many of the bookstore locations are not actually owned by starbucks, they are owned by the bookstore.)

So, you're telling me that a store with 7,500 locations is a niche market?

Well, maybe a really big niche. : - )

On the closest major corner to my house, there is a freestanding Starbucks in the parking lot of an Albertson's that has a Starbucks inside the store. I know of two other locations within 8 miles that have the same setup. That's six Starbucks outlets in three locations in an 8 mile radius. That doesn't include the four or five others that I know of in the same area. And, I don't even drink coffee so I am not looking for them.

I'd say they have a little overpenetration of the market...