– During the store’s first year, Rod Stewart was being chased by fans and ran into the
store. Barry, who was behind the counter, locked the door after letting him. He spent
thousands of dollars buying gifts for friends. “I never acknowledged who he was or
said I was the owner of the company,” Barry says. “Then I turned him loose with all
these shopping bags, walking down the street.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger used to buy a large-size toothbrush called the Supersmile
toothbrush.
– Anna Nicole Smith was staying at the Four Seasons and would have her limo drive her
a half a block to get a facial.
– Aerosmith would come into town and order products to be delivered backstage.
– Goldie Hawn, who is from Bethesda, used to stop in often. Mary Louise Parker too.
– The Becks came up with the name Bluemercury while sitting on the floor of Barnes &
Noble on M Street, poring over books. Marla’s favorite color is blue, and Barry, looking
in astrological books, liked “mercury,” associated with speed, plus Mercury was the god
of information. They took the name to their board of directors, who hated it and asked
them to do focus groups. Barry said, “Does anyone know what Starbucks is?” The name
stayed.
