It seems like things are improving at Starbucks. Thecoffee giant posted first-quarter earnings of $241.5million, and a same-store sales gain of 4%, it's firstsince 2008.Executives attributed the improvement, in part, to itsnew Via instantcoffee. Starbucks also cut costs and closed stores in the lastyear and a half.And while all of this is taking place,the company is now testing its first line of neighborhood-focusedstores in its hometown of Seattle. CEO Howard Schultzsays the company is behaving more like a startup again, and storesare now focused more to cater to customers regionally rather thantaking a cookie-cutter approach.Have you noticed a change at yourlocal Starbucks, or does it seem like business asusual?ALSO:Crabtree & Evelyn Bankruptcy Emergence an Unusual RetailRebound

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