Prime Highlights:
- Starbucks is redesigning 1,000 U.S. cafes by 2026 to make them more welcoming, comfortable, and accessible.
- The company wants to restore its reputation as a “third place” where customers can relax outside of home and work.
Key Facts:
- Each store makeover will cost about $150,000, and renovations will happen without shutting down the cafes.
- Starbucks is bringing back outlets, more seating, and softer lighting to encourage people to stay longer.
Key Background:
Starbucks is giving its U.S. cafes a new look to make them more welcoming, comfortable, and accessible. The company will do an upgrade on approximately 1,000 stores before the year 2026 and spend approximately $150,000 on a single store. The work will be done while the stores stay open so that customers won’t be affected.
With these changes, Starbucks hopes to bring back its image as a “third place”, a spot where people can relax outside of home and work. In recent years, the chain had moved away from that idea by cutting seating and removing outlets, which made it less inviting for customers to stay longer. Now, under CEO Brian Niccol, the company is bringing those features back to encourage customers to relax, connect, and work more comfortably.
The new look will differ from place to place, but the main focus is on comfort, accessibility, and a warm atmosphere. Stores will have more seating, softer lighting, and décor that mixes Starbucks’ global style with local character. For example, the renovated Union Square café in New York City now includes leather seats, movable tables that are easy to use for wheelchair users, area rugs to reduce noise, and plenty of greenery to give the space a homelike touch.
Starbucks has also reintroduced electrical outlets, which were previously removed, so that students and professionals can charge their devices while they work. On top of that, better insulation has been added to cut down on background noise, creating a calmer environment for both customers and baristas. The new lighting design, which uses warmer tones, not only makes the cafes more comfortable for those sensitive to bright lights but also highlights artwork and décor more effectively.
According to Dawn Clark, senior vice president of coffeehouse design, the goal is to create “immersive, inclusive, and deeply human” spaces. She emphasized that thoughtful design can encourage customers to return more often while supporting business growth. The company began its upgrades in New York and Southern California and will expand across the U.S. in the coming years.
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