Starbucks’ next big design move takes aim at its small-footprint stores
New Starbucks coffeehouses are getting smaller. The coffee chain announced Tuesday that it’s rolling out store concepts with a smaller physical footprint. Prototypes of the new coffeehouse opened last year in New York City and last month in San Antonio . Starbucks said it was exploring the new concept because it can be adapted to smaller locations and different sizes and shapes, and yet still be…
Starbucks, the world's largest coffee chain with more than 29,000 retail stores, is introducing a new smaller store concept to adapt to different sizes and shapes. The prototypes were opened in New York City last year and San Antonio last month. The smaller cafés feature a shortened counter, a compact glass case for bakery and food items, and varied seating layouts.
Some may only accommodate a few people, while others can fit plush seating and tables for multiple people. Decorated with dark green walls, wood accents, plants, and side tables with knickknacks, these spaces aim to create an inviting, homey feeling. Starbucks has also revived its employee dress code and introduced handwritten notes on coffee cups.
CEO Brian Niccol, who joined in 2024, introduced these changes as part of its "Back to Starbucks" plan to make the shop more inviting. The company will add over 25,000 café seats across its stores by the end of the 2026 fiscal year, and expects to build 400 net-new coffeehouses across the U.S. in 2028, some of which might not be all that big.
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