"Starbucks of the Future" Arrives Today
Olive Way Starbucks, in its final pre-opening flurry.
After a reported $552,000 overhaul, the Starbucks at 1600 E. Olive Way reopened today at 5 a.m.. Per usual, CHS blog has been all over the return of the so-called Gaybucks--this time serving regional wine, beer and cheese plates. They've even got a photo gallery of restaurants that previously occupied the prominent spot (check out the white tablecloth restaurant "Plaid Piper" in the 1950s).
USA Today is also in on the action, holding up this new incarnation as "the Starbucks of the future." According to this article, Starbucks stores in the U.S. get 70 percent of business before 2 p.m. And early plans to serve scoops of coffee ice cream bombed in test runs.
The article is full of breathless lines like, "The corporate eyes of Starbucks — and the nation's ultracompetitive, $15 billion chain coffee business — are laser-focused on this Starbucks store on Olive Way in Seattle's bustling Capitol Hill area."
Now let's see whether the new dimmed lighting, alcoholic menu, giant illuminated sign and salvaged chic decor actually helps the coffee giant bring in business in the evening hours.
