McDonald's vs. Guzman y Gomez US Closures: The Ghost of Starbucks 2008 Haunts the Fast-Casual Industry
Just as the 2008 financial crisis forced Starbucks to shutter hundreds of underperforming stores, the sudden US closures of Guzman y Gomez reveal a startlingly similar pattern of rapid expansion followed by a brutal market correction. Industry analysts are calling it the "Starbucks 2008 echo cycle," where a beloved brand sacrifices long-term stability for short-term stock growth, only to cut its losses when the quarterly figures don't justify the footprint.