I'm not sure how it happened, but this tracks with my personal experience. 15 years ago the local stabucks had a fireplace, was meticulously clean, was busy but had seating, and generally was a place I associated with a really pleasant feeling.<p>Now my local one is more dirty than a McDonalds (perhaps people using up seats are seen as unprofitable), the drinks are even more expensive, and my stomache absolutely cannot handle their drinks (is it the acid, the sugar, or what?).