Starbucks cools off

Patrick Dempsey’s doing just fine without having to pull a West Coast coffee chain from the brink of extinction. Besides being one of Hollywood’s most seasoned lady killers, he’s still making a fine living for himself as McDreamy on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” now in its ninth season. But Dempsey’s not satisfied merely acting. That’s why Global Baristas, LLC — an investor group led by Dempsey — surprised observers by outbidding Starbucks in early January to purchase Tully’s, a small, bankrupt, Seattle-based coffee chain.

Patrick Dempsey’s doing just fine without having to pull a West Coast coffee chain from the brink of extinction. Besides being one of Hollywood’s most seasoned lady killers, he’s still making a fine living for himself as McDreamy on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” now in its ninth season. But Dempsey’s not satisfied merely acting. That’s why Global Baristas, LLC — an investor group led by Dempsey — surprised observers by outbidding Starbucks in early January to purchase Tully’s, a small, bankrupt, Seattle-based coffee chain.

On TV, actor Patrick Dempsey plays Dr.McDreamy on "Grey's Anatomy," the ABC drama set at fictional Seattle Grace Hospital. In real life, Dempsey is trying to give back to the Seattle community by saving Tully's Coffee -- a global coffe chain based there that employs over 500 people -- from bankruptcy.

BySeth Golden:Shares of Starbucks (SBUX) were down after hours as investors were likely in the mood to take profits as the stock steadily climbed its way higher leading into the earnings release and through much of the quarter.

Lowe's reported a 44% decline in store profits today and blamed store closings. What are other retailers doing? First consider Store Closings Slam Lowe's Profit Lowe's Cos.' fiscal-third-quarter earnings fell 44% as store-closing charges masked the home-improvement retailer's slightly improved same-store sales.

TORONTO — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. posted a $14.8-million loss in what the company concedes was a “very difficult” first quarter, but CEO Michael McCain described the problems as both “transitory” and “self-correcting.” “This was a very difficult quarter, with lower earnings in our protein business overshadowing good improvement in our bakery results,” McCain said.