Via Jason Kottke is this link to Starbucks’ online store locator where I found out that there are 72 branches in the Philippines, all owned by Rustan’s Corporation, might I add? (I’m surprised—there’s only one branch in Cebu City?) From Jason’s post and readers’ comments, you can see that there are locations in New York and London where there are more than 150 Starbucks branches within a five-mile radius!

I find this interesting since I’ve observed before that there are places in Metro Manila where the number of Starbucks branches exceed that of Jollibee! My officemate and I once determined that there are eight branches in Ortigas Center alone (Shangri-la Streetscape, Megamall Megastrip, Megamall Bridgeway, The Podium, Robinson’s Galleria, Pearl Plaza, Emerald Ave., and Metrowalk).

Another thing I’ve wondered before is which two branches are nearest to each other. As far as I can tell (pun intended), the closest ones would have to be the Eastwood branches—there’s one at City Walk 2 on the ground floor and another at the fourth level, beside the cinemas. In a close second place are the Glorietta 4 branches—the popular fourth level branch near the cinemas, and the unnoticed one on the ground floor. In third place are the Megamall branches.

But nothing beats New York, where there are stores that are right across the street from each other! And most of the time they’re full!

The online store locator is very cool, actually. It’s very much up-to-date; I don’t know of any local store that is not on the website.

And finally, here’s the obligatory stores-I-have-tried list (in chronological order, if my memory serves me right):

• Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City

• 6750 Ayala Avenue, Ayala Center, Makati City

• 4/F Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City

• Bonifacio Stopover, Taguig City

• Megamall Megastrip, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

• Adriatico St., Malate, Manila

• Shangri-la Streetscape, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

• City Walk 2, Eastwood City, Quezon City

• Alpap I Bldg., L.P. Leviste St., Makati City

• Blue Wave, Diosdado Macapagal Ave., Pasay City

• Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Makati City