Home»» "I'll have a Venti Merlot, please."
Only in my dreams, right? Perhaps not. While I'm sure they hope their maniacal Starbucks fans continue to crave no-whip, half-caff, mocha light frappucinnos on a daily (if not hourly) basis, the Seattle-based coffee company is quietly testing a new concept on the block. It sells coffee, teas and the like as expected, but add to that a dash of ice cream, local pastries and a wine and beer menu. Suddenly the craving is not just breakfast oriented...but happy hour savvy. And hint hint: it's not called Starbucks.
Introducing the new 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea concept, a locally driven test concept Starbucks launched in the Capitol Hill area in Seattle in July. The new store is part of a test that will include an additional two Seattle shops, similarly named after their surrounding neighborhoods. The coffeehouse design draws inspiration from the original Starbucks location opened in Seattle’s Pike Place Market 38 years ago, and features materials and furnishings that are recycled, reused or locally sourced, such as a community table made using wood from an old ship and bartops from shuttered Starbucks locations. Just a pleasant, authentic neighborhood coffeehouse vibe. In this diva's mind, Starbucks got it right. For more pics, visit the DDI Project Gallery.
P.S. The store manager, Jenna, even has her own blog with updates on events and store happenings. Very un-corporate. Very cool. They also have a Twitter page (@15thAveCoffee), for the super social-net savvy.
--Diva
Photo: Courtesy of Starbucks Corp.
Comments