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The "Starbucks Guy" is a man with a seemingly real-life "Mission Impossible:" to visit every Starbucks in the world. This Saturday, his mission will bring him to the Fountain Theater in Mesilla to attend the screening of "Starbucking," a documentary about his unusual java-seeking adventure.
He calls himself Winter. Yep, just Winter; no last name, no first. Like Cher.
"It's just something I'm doing to be different," Winter said, holding the same explanation for his chosen moniker.
The "project" has taken Winter to nearly 6,800 Starbucks locations over the past 10 years, with hundreds more to go before he's done.
Winter's "to-do" list is constantly growing as more locations open internationally everyday, giving his task a certain never-ending quality. It doesn't dampen his spirits, but it's quickly becoming a life's work for the on-again-off-again computer programmer from Texas.
The question of "Why?" is probably on the Top Ten FAQ for Winter, and his answer is the essential inspiration for "Starbucking." Director Bill Tangeman followed Winter in a cross-country introspective look at the project, and along the way, interviewed people close to Winter in an effort to analyze what is really going on inside this seriously caffeinated man.
"I always wanted to stand out. I can't sing or dance, so I sort of had to make my own category," Winter explained during an appearance on the Wayne Brady show.
Hailing from the Houston and Plano area, Winter doesn't consider either city his home.
"My home is abstract," Winter said. "It's myself, clothes, a laptop and transportation," and later adds, "an Internet connection."
Winter maintains his own Web site, starbuckseverywhere.net and keeps it up-to-date with stats and graphs of his progress posted for interested parties. His "Stores Visited" count is documented by taking photographs of each location.
Interviewers have questioned Winter on his mental stability while making cracks about his oddball quest, but Winter's answers come very sanely and matter-of-factly. It is an obvious case of doing something just to do it. He won't even go so far as to say that he "loves" Starbucks.
"I enjoy Starbucks coffee, not love it," Winter said. "It's good enough."
After just a brief conversation with Winter, one will discover his Starbucks project is not really about Starbucks at all.
"If Dunkin Donuts had been the place where everyone hung out in Plano in 1997," Winter said, the project might have a different title.
"It was convenient. I got used to it," Winter said of the subject of his mission.
"Starbucks is an inviting place to hang out," said Winter, explaining its allure for him, in addition to the convenient location between his apartment and first job out of college. "No pressure to leave, no pressure to buy anything. I just formed a habit."
Even in the wake of his recent national recognition, Winter hasn't changed his project strategy.
"'Minor celebrity' doesn't come with a paycheck," he said. "My car is my hotel." Winter recently bought a Hyundai Accent to replace his old Honda Civic hatchback, which was a must for his on-the-road lifestyle.
"I have no intention of traveling lavishly," Winter said, mentioning that he is saving his money for overseas Starbucks conquests.
Through the course of his java journey, Winter has seen the country, met many new people and appeared on national television and radio talk shows. All things considered, it is apparent that it really isn't all about the impossible goal itself, but about the experience of his self-proclaimed quest to be different. Clearly, Starbucks is just along for the ride.
"Starbucking" will show as part of the Fountain Theater's CineMatinee this Saturday at 1:30 p.m., with Winter in attendance. Admission is $3. The screening is part of a double feature that will also include "Black Gold," a film about the imbalance of monetary gain in the coffee production industry.
For more information call 524-8287 or visit fountaintheatre.org.
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