WHAT:  Starbucks conducts historic in-store education and training event for more than 135,000 store partners (employees) across the United States.
In-store event and media-related details include:
• The company will close each of its nearly 7,100 company-operated stores in the U.S. on Tuesday, February 26 at 5:30 p.m. local time to conduct a nationwide education event, designed to energize partners and transform the customer experience.
• Stores with evening hours will re-open at 9:00 p.m. 
• The comprehensive educational curriculum to provide a renewed focus on espresso standards that will help ensure the exceptional quality of every beverage.

WHEN:  Tuesday, February 26 and Wednesday, February 27, 2008
• Starbucks in-store b-roll footage available on Tuesday, February 26 at 3:00 - 3:15  p.m. EST, C-Band Galaxy 26, Transponder 9 DL 3880 V.
• Espresso Excellence training b-roll footage available on Wednesday February 27 at 3-3:15 a.m. and 5-5:15 a.m. EST.  Satellite coordinates for both times:  C-Band; AMC 3, Transponder 8, DL 3860V.
• Still photo images of the in-store training will be available on BusinessWire after 8 p.m. EST.

STARBUCKS FUN FACTS:
• Starbucks will be closed for 3 ½ hours.  That’s 210 minutes or 12,600 seconds.
• Approximately 7,100 Starbucks stores across the country will temporarily shut their doors to the public.
• More than 135,000 baristas in the United States will be trained in a matter of hours.
• That amounts to almost a half a million hours of training in one night.

“12,600 Seconds in Time” – 5 GREAT THINGS TO DO IN JUST 3 ½ HOURS
1. Thinking of a change in hair color?  A full color with highlights takes just about 3 hours.
2. Watch almost all of the nominated short films.
3. When was the last time you made a home cooked meal? You can roast an 8lb -12lb turkey in 3 ½ hours.
4. What better time to organize those closets, it’s a jump start on spring cleaning.
5. After patiently waiting 12,601 seconds, head to Starbucks to get that espresso!