Wake up and smell the coffee

2005-09-21 17:43

New Orleans - Most of the city may be without clean drinking water, but United States coffee chain Starbucks has still managed to reopen its first outlet in New Orleans since the city was pounded by Hurricane Katrina.

Its branch in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel on the edge of the city's touristy French Quarter opened this week to cater to hundreds of relief workers, contractors and journalists living in the area.

"We've not had as many people as we usually expect, but there's been a lot of media" and workers involved in disaster relief, says Joseph Bridgewater junior, the branch's manager.

With all but a handful of bars, restaurants and fast food outlets in the city still shut up more than three weeks after Katrina struck, some were evidently relieved to get their fix of Starbucks fare.

"It's so nice to see you open," said one clearly satisfied customer.

- AFP