Starbucks will soon bring its streamlined, pickup-only store model to Manhattan this fall, according to an article published on Bloomberg.
The NYC store, which is still under development and slated to open at some point this fall, is based on the coffee chain’s “Starbucks Now” model it debuted in Beijing in July.
Starbucks Now stores have limited seating, which wouldn’t be too drastic of a change in Manhattan, where tables and chairs at Starbucks locations are already pretty minimal. More importantly, the concept features an in-wall pickup system where customers order and pay via the Starbucks app and retrieve their orders from pickup portals in the wall, without having to wait in line. The system also works for delivery drivers, who can simply walk into the store and grab their order from the wall and go. One or two baristas will be on hand to make drinks and assist customers if they need it.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson told Bloomberg that these stores aren’t meant to replace existing Starbucks cafes and are instead geared towards on-the-go customers (which is basically everyone in Manhattan). The express stores can also double as locations where nearby Starbucks cafes can have their delivery orders fulfilled, freeing up time for employees to focus on non-mobile customers.
They’ll need that extra location for delivery orders. Starbucks recently announced that its delivery partnership with Uber Eats will be available throughout the U.S. by early 2020.
While there’s no official timeline yet, Starbucks will likely plan similar Starbucks Now stores in other cities, including San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles.
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