Are there differences between rents charged for storefronts in the U.S. and across southern Europe? In the Midwest all our storefronts are empty (especially in our new "mixed use" developments) because the rent is astronomical and evidently developers would rather have a place empty than rented at anything less than a premium. Also, does Starbucks build in the cost of offering health insurance to some of their employees? That would also be a difference between U.S. and European pricing, wouldn't it? Interesting piece.