It seems like things are improving at Starbucks. The coffee giant posted first-quarter earnings of $241.5 million, and a same-store sales gain of 4%, it's first since 2008.Executives attributed the improvement, in part, to its new Via instant coffee. Starbucks also cut costs and closed stores in the last year and a half.And while all of this is taking place, the company is now testing its first line of neighborhood-focused stores in its hometown of Seattle. CEO Howard Schultz says the company is behaving more like a startup again, and stores are now focused more to cater to customers regionally rather than taking a cookie-cutter approach.Have you noticed a change at your local Starbucks, or does it seem like business as usual?ALSO: Crabtree & Evelyn Bankruptcy Emergence an Unusual Retail Rebound

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