Starbucks Buzz: New Meaning to Venti Brew

Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, has admitted that he's had a tough time letting go of his upstart roots, and would one day reinvent what he originally saw Starbucks as, 'A place between work and home'. Touching. Coincidentally, that reinvention has also planned to build up their off peak-hours sales.

The Olive Way store in Seattle reopened Monday is the first under the Starbucks brand to offer alcohol. Craft beer and local wines go on sale after 4 p.m. The idea is to offer drinks and a wider variety of savory food that will attract customers after the morning espresso rush.

As USA Today reports, 'U.S. Starbucks stores see 70 percent of their business before 2 p.m., but the company wants to capture more of the evening customer traffic by offering customers more options.'

The coffee company also wants to foster a greater sense of community and plans to work with local artists to build “community tables” that can sit up to 15 people at a time. Inside the store, colors are muted and the lighting is dimmed, particularly in the evenings. The whole design tenor is low key, and simply doesn’t scream Starbucks when you walk in the door.'  

What do you think? Do you want to see beer and wine at your local Starbucks? ~ p