The first Starbucks store in Rome overlooks Piazza Montecitorio, the historic and political heart of the ‘Eternal City’.&nbsp; Starbucks has exciting plans for the capital beyond the opening of Montecitorio, including two new store openings in Roma Termini Station at the end of May, creating a total of 45 new jobs.&nbsp;

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Rome, May 10, 2023 - Starbucks is opening in Italy’s capital city tomorrow in partnership with Percassi, Starbucks exclusive Italian licensee partner, in Piazza Montecitorio - the historic and political heart of the ‘Eternal City’. This will be Starbucks 25th store in Italy, part of a broader expansion plan to bring the unique Starbucks Experience to even more Italian customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Since entering the Italian market in 2018 with the Starbucks® Reserve Roastery in Milan, around 450 jobs have been created and more are on the way: by the end of 2023, there will be 36 Starbucks stores in Italy in total. At the end of May, two more stores will also open at Termini Station: a grab&amp;go in the basement and a store on the terrace, to welcome tourists, commuters and locals when they arrive in Rome.&nbsp;

Starbucks has always strived to be a company that puts partners (employees), customers and coffee at the centre. First entering the Lazio region in 2022 with the opening of Castel Romano, Piazza Montecitorio marks Starbucks' 25th opening in Italy. Rome is one of three Italian cities, besides Milan and Verona, where Starbucks founder Howard Schultz first encountered Italian coffee culture in 1983.&nbsp;

“We are thrilled to open our first store in the center of Rome, with even more exciting plans to come for the capital. Tomorrow’s opening will be the first in a series of wonderful surprises for the city”, Matteo Morandi, CEO of Percassi Retail, comments. “Lazio is a very important region for Starbucks, and we celebrated our first opening in the province of Caserta last month, reaffirming our long-term commitment to continued growth in Italy.”&nbsp;

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The shop in Montecitorio, which will create 35 new jobs, has an area of 200 square metres on two floors, and 80 seats with a view of the Chamber of Deputies. The materials chosen recall the colour shades of Piazza Montecitorio. The ground floor is the liveliest and most dynamic area, made of travertine marble and tuff, typical of traditional Roman buildings, where customers can order their favourite food and drink, to be enjoyed on the floors of the store in comfortable seats surrounded by artworks on the walls. The upper floor has been designed with a more muted colour palette and offers a quieter space to enjoy the best traditional Starbucks experience.&nbsp;

“Coffee culture is very deep-rooted in Rome, with espresso being the most popular beverage”, comments Vincenzo Catrambone, General Manager of Starbucks Italy. “Even in Starbucks stores in Italy, the most bought drink is espresso, while younger generations love Starbucks cold beverages and iced coffee. We are always working to create unique food and beverage proposals for our Italian customers during the seasons along the year, to continue to meet their needs and amaze them.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Food offerings include both bakery and salad items, as well as desserts. The menu also includes the brand new Oleato™ beverages made from Starbucks finest arabica coffee infused with extra virgin olive oil, which first launched in Italy in February and are now available in stores in the US, Japan and the UK. Drinks from the recently launched summer menu including Starbucks Refresha® Drink and seasonal Frappuccino® Blended Beverages will also be available.&nbsp;

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Follow us on our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/starbucksitalia/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> and Facebook channels to stay updated on new store opening dates. Stay tuned!&nbsp;

LOCATION: Starbucks Piazza Montecitorio&nbsp; ADDRESS: Via della Guglia 56°-57-58-59, 00186 Roma&nbsp; OPENING TIMES: Monday - Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.&nbsp;

LOCATION: Starbucks Stazione Roma Termini&nbsp; ADDRESS: Piazza dei Cinquecento, 00185 Roma&nbsp; OPENING TIMES: Monday - Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.&nbsp;

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About Starbucks® Coffee Company&nbsp;

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://stories.starbucks.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.Starbucks.com</a>. &nbsp;

About Percassi Group&nbsp;

Percassi is a company whose activities include the development and management of franchising networks for major brands (such as Gucci, A|X Armani Exchange, Saint Laurent, Nike, Jordan, Victoria's Secret, Bath&amp;Body Works, LEGO, Garmin in the fashion-beauty and consumer sectors, and Starbucks in the food sector). Percassi is also active in the management of its own brands (KIKO Milano, Womo and Bullfrog in the cosmetics sector, DMAIL, Atalanta in the sports sector, Da30Polenta in the food industry). In the food service industry Percassi also manages, in partnership with the Cremonini Group, the brands Wagamama, Casa Maioli and Caio Antica Pinza Romana. Percassi also operates in the real estate sector for the realisation of important real estate projects in the commercial and management sectors. For further information: <a href="http://www.percassi.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.percassi.com</a>&nbsp;

The first Starbucks store in Rome overlooks Piazza Montecitorio, the historic and political heart of the ‘Eternal City’. 

A room with a view for the first Starbucks opening in Rome

Stories to inspire and nurture the human spirit

Starbucks Stories

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Starbucks Corporation

A room with a view for the first Starbucks opening in the center of Rome

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Opening to the public on Nov. 16, store offers new, exclusive experiences such as hands-on coffee workshops, guided tasting flights, and an extended artisan menu of new Princi food

Tributes to Empire State Building and New York City abound, including historical design elements, locally inspired craft cocktails, and collaborations with local artists

Starbucks today unveiled the new Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store which opens its doors to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. ET. &nbsp;Spanning 23,000 square feet and three floors, this unique store celebrates connecting over coffee through innovative experiences such as immersive hands-on workshops and guided tasting flights as well as new coffee beverages and craft cocktails, and an extended artisan menu of Princi food only available at this location.

“Starbucks Reserve locations are designed to spotlight our exquisite Starbucks Reserve® coffee and showcase our heritage, expertise, and dedication to coffee craft through interactive coffee experiences where barista craft is the cornerstone,” said Mark Ring, svp of U.S. retail at Starbucks.&nbsp; “The Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store is a one-of-a-kind destination that highlights our commitment to push the boundaries of coffee craft and offer our customers new, immersive and multi-sensory coffeehouses that are designed to inspire and create moments of connection in this special space.”

“We are honored to have been a part of New York City for more than thirty years and the iconic Empire State Building for almost 15 years.&nbsp; We look forward to welcoming customers to the new Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store on Nov. 16, an experience like no other, in a city like no other,” said Ring.

Connecting Over Coffee&nbsp;

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On the first floor, customers can enjoy a variety of Starbucks beverages from signature Starbucks Reserve® beverages such as the Hazelnut Bianco Latte and Nitro Almondmilk Mocha, to favorites like Starbucks Caramel Macchiato and Starbucks Refreshers® beverages, as well as seasonal coffees like the Peppermint Mocha – all crafted with Starbucks Reserve coffee.

The store will also exclusively serve and sell Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building® Microblend, a coffee that was inspired by and honors the iconic building and is roasted locally at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery located in the Meatpacking district. This unique coffee, which will be the primary blend used to craft the beverages and cocktails served throughout the store, offers notes of red and black fruit, vanilla, and spice with a smooth, chocolaty mouthfeel.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To complement the beverage menu, customers can also enjoy a selection of food from Princi, the renowned artisanal boutique bakery and café founded by Italian baker Rocco Princi. As the exclusive food purveyor at Starbucks Reserve locations, Princi offers a selection of freshly baked cornetti, focaccia and pizza, avocado toast, brioche, cakes and tarts.

The first floor will also feature a personalized shopping experience where customers can browse a variety of curated local artist merchandise collections and explore seasonally rotating Starbucks Reserve whole bean coffee for purchase.

Unique Coffeehouse Experiences&nbsp;

The concourse level offers customers the opportunity to explore the art of carefully crafted beverages and food. From the guided tastings at the Innovation Bar to the aromas and flavors of tasting flights and small bites served in the Experience Lounge, to the hands-on Starbucks Reserve Coffee Workshops.

Exclusive to the Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store, customers can be among the first to experience the evolution of espresso with Starbucks Cold Pressed Espresso beverages. Designed by Starbucks, the patented brewing technology uses cold water and gentle, upward pressure to unlock a softer, sweeter espresso shot. The Cold Pressed Espresso Tasting Experience is a guided, multi-sensory tasting flight featuring several new beverages such as the Iced Apple Americano and Malted Milkshake with Black Lemon. This reservation-only experience is offered daily at the Innovation Bar. &nbsp;

The Starbucks Reserve Coffee Workshops, also located on the concourse level, are interactive, small group workshops that are grounded in coffee and beverage craft. These first-of-their-kind workshops include Whiskey Barrel-Aged 101, Starbucks Reserve Brewtender for A Day, Espresso Martini Flight Fundamentals and Fun with Spirit-Free Spritzes.

Customers may purchase tickets to the workshops or make reservations to the Innovation Bar tasting on the <a href="https://www.starbucksreserve.com/en-us/locations/esb">Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building website</a> in advance.

At the Experience Lounge customers can relax and recharge with Starbucks Reserve beverages and a curated selection of small bites. Here customers can also order signature tableside flights such as the Single Origin Brew &amp; Bites Flight, Espresso Martini &amp; Dessert Flight, Cold Brew &amp; Sweets, or the Empire Affogato Flight.

Next level food and cocktails&nbsp;

The restaurant and bar on level two is a space made for gathering, sharing, and connecting. Here customers can enjoy artisanal food from Princi&nbsp;created exclusively by Starbucks Reserve. The menu features signature tasting boards and plates, and entrees for brunch, lunch, and all day long.&nbsp;Honoring Starbucks tradition of starting gatherings with a coffee tasting, every meal will start with a complimentary first sip tasting of Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building Microblend.

On this level, customers can also enjoy a selection of thoughtfully curated Starbucks Reserve cocktails to share that pay tribute to this iconic space. Available exclusively at this store, the coffee and tea sharable cocktails include the Empire Negroni, Siren Tea Punch Fountain, Starbucks Reserve Royale Experience, and the Big Apple Blossom, which will be delivered table-side. A selection of signature Starbucks Reserve coffee cocktails, such as the Starbucks Reserve Boulevardier and Espresso Martini, and classic cocktails are also available.

Honoring the iconic Art Deco design&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks takes the utmost respect and care when planning and designing spaces for its stores, ensuring the design honors the history of the space while also fostering connection and creating accessible experiences for customers.&nbsp;Throughout the design and construction process, Starbucks worked closely with the team at Empire State Realty Trust (the owner of the Empire State Building) its historic landmark preservation consultant and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission to ensure the space honored the historic building.

The Empire State Building is a New York icon and testament to artistry of the Art Deco style, which is defined by strong geometric patterns, rich colors, and ornamental details. These design elements can be found throughout the store – from the columns and walls to the art installations, glass partitions and furniture – as modern interpretations of the Art Deco style and materiality of the Empire State Building.

The Starbucks design team also worked with the Empire State Building team to revitalize and restore several elements that were original to the space. &nbsp;On the façade the exterior mullion and revolving door configuration was restored, and the storefront finials were brought back to original condition.

Inside the store, marble was restored and traditional concrete terrazzo stonework was installed at the lobby entrance; and the second-floor windows were restored to their original full ceiling height. To celebrate the history of the building, Starbucks removed concrete covering the original hand-riveted steel columns. The store, in addition to the Empire State Building Observatory Experience, is one of the few places visitors can view the original riveted columns within the building.

Art is omnipresent in the store and all artistic installations within space were influenced by the Empire State Building’s iconic style, craftsmanship, and optimism. Starbucks commissioned New York-based artists to create the installations, murals, and merchandise that spotlight Art Deco<a> </a>flourishes, the building’s spirit, and the essence of Starbucks and the origins of coffee. Read more about the store’s design and unique, original artwork <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/new-starbucks-reserve-store-in-nyc-brings-landmark-coffee-experience-to-empire-state-building/">here</a>.

Leading in Coffee Innovation&nbsp;

Starbucks began its journey over fifty years ago to make premium arabica coffee accessible to all while fostering a culture of connection. Since the first Starbucks Reserve Roastery opened in Seattle in 2014, the company’s aspirations for Starbucks Reserve remains the same – to spotlight the exquisite Starbucks Reserve coffee and showcase the company’s heritage, expertise, and dedication to coffee through immersive experiences where barista craft is at the center of the experience. &nbsp;Starbucks Reserve locations shine a halo on the brand and serve as a pipeline of product innovation that can then be brought to scale in the broader Starbucks retail footprint. The new Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building provides an opportunity to continue pushing the boundaries on coffee craft and the coffeehouse experience.

The Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store joins the Starbucks Reserve portfolio that includes six Starbucks Reserve Roasteries located in Seattle, Shanghai, Milan, New York, Tokyo, and Chicago, as well as Starbucks Reserve locations around the world.&nbsp;

Starbucks heritage in New York City dates to 1994 and the company has operated stores in the Empire State Building since 2008. New York City continues to be a place where Starbucks introduces new store concepts and offers a variety of experiences – from the first Starbucks®&nbsp;Pickup store to the immersive Starbucks Reserve®&nbsp;Roastery located in the Meatpacking district.

The Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store opens on Wednesday, Nov. 16. For more information, including hours of operation, please visit <a href="https://www.starbucksreserve.com/en-us/locations/esb">starbucksreserve.com/en-us/locations/esb</a>.

Photos by Sarah Flotard, Matt Glac, Talia Green, Connor Surdi

About Starbucks &nbsp;

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 35,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at stories.starbucks.com, <a href="https://www.starbucksreserve.com/en-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starbucksreserve.com</a> or <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starbucks.com</a> . &nbsp;

Opening on Nov. 16, the store offers exclusive experiences such as coffee workshops, guided tasting flights, and an extended artisan menu.

New Starbucks Reserve Store in New York’s Iconic Empire State Building Unveiled

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Opening to the public on Nov. 16, store offers new, exclusive experiences such as hands-on coffee workshops, guided tasting flights, and an extended artisan menu of new Princi food.

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2449 E Century Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90002

Today, Starbucks opened a new Community Store in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA as&nbsp;part of the&nbsp;company’s ongoing&nbsp;commitment to invest in traditionally underserved, diverse communities across the country and create pathways for those facing barriers to opportunity.

The Watts Community Store is the 17th Community Store in the U.S. and the second in the L.A. area. Community Stores are dedicated to providing economic opportunity by hiring locally, including working with diverse contractors for store construction and commissioning local artists to create murals in the store.&nbsp;Each store also features a dedicated space that will be used in partnership with local organizations to serve the needs of the community.

The new Starbucks store in Watts has created 22 local jobs by hiring partners (employees) from the area. Hiring local partners is an important part of Starbucks strategy to support economic development and build stronger connections with the community. Both qualifying full-time and part-time partners at the Watts store will able to take advantage of the company’s leading benefits, including full health care coverage and equity in the form of stock; the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, which gives partners the opportunity to get a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University with full tuition reimbursement; and more.

The Watts Community Store has a training room designed for community events, including programs hosted in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. The store also features two murals commissioned by local artist, <a href="http://mikenorice.com/">Mike Norice</a>, on the exterior of the store. Titled Community and Love, this artwork was inspired by the important aspects and events that shaped the Watts neighborhood into what it is today.

Watts store partners have also nominated four community organizations that support local youth programs to receive donations from Starbucks: East Side Riders Bike Club, Sister of Watts, Operation Progress LA, College Track Watts. Each organization will receive $2,500.

This spring, Starbucks opened two other Community Stores in the U.S. in Prince George’s County, MD and Anacostia, Washington, DC. Since launching the initiative in 2015, Starbucks has opened community stores across the country in Jamaica, Queens, New York; Ferguson, Missouri; Phoenix, Arizona; Englewood in the southside of Chicago; east Baltimore; Long Beach, California; Trenton, New Jersey; White Center in south Seattle; Miami Gardens, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; Dallas, Texas; Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn, New York; New Orleans, Louisiana.

The company has <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/starbucks-expands-commitment-in-underserved-communities-across-the-us/">committed</a> to opening 100 community stores by 2025.&nbsp;

The Watts Community Store is the 17th Community Store in the U.S. and the second in the L.A. area.

Starbucks opens Community Store in Watts Neighborhood of L.A.

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Community Stores are dedicated to providing economic opportunity by hiring locally, including working with diverse contractors for store construction and commissioning local artists to create murals in the store.

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Massive peaceful protests for racial equality at the Wisconsin state capital gave way to destruction and shattered windows in a historic Madison neighborhood. As the plywood went up, one Starbucks store “in a sea of broken glass” kept serving coffee – and hope.

As the sun rose over her beloved city and a “sea of broken glass” that stretched as far as she could see in every direction, longtime Starbucks store manager <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/sisters-and-store-managers-julie-and-colleen-campbell-inspire-each-other/">Julie Campbell</a> took a deep breath and started brewing coffee. She’d been sweeping since 3 a.m., and though the Madison, Wisconsin, Starbucks she’s managed for 15 years had no glass left in its doors or windows, she said it did not even occur to her to close.

“We’ve never not served coffee. We’ve never not served our neighborhood,” Julie said. “If there was a way, and there were partners willing to join me, I can’t imagine not.”

For several days, massive peaceful protests for racial equality at the nearby state capital had given way to destruction after dark by comparatively few. The large, two-story Starbucks with a balcony – which pre-pandemic was bustling with college students from the nearby University of Wisconsin campus – was one of many businesses hit by vandals.

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“I am no stranger to protests. I’ve been fighting for progress for my entire life,” said Campbell, who has been with her partner for 30 years but was finally able to legally marry her five years ago with the Supreme Court’s passage of marriage equality in all 50 states. “What happened on our street has nothing to do with what went on at the capital, which was peaceful protests against police violence and society having a literal and figurative knee on the neck of black and brown people for 400 years. There is no comparison.”

Campbell and her team served coffee to news crews and other business owners. They offered coffee to police officers and protestors and the volunteers who arrived to help clean up. As crews prepared to cover the store’s window frames with plywood, Campbell and Starbucks district manager Lisa Greco had an idea. They called Michelle Kolar, a painter and shift supervisor from a nearby Starbucks.

The three women brainstormed what they hoped would be an inspiring design, and Michelle headed to a nearby hardware store to pick out some paint.

“I asked for their advice on the right kind of paint and they asked what I was doing. When I told them what I was painting and why, they donated it,” Michelle said.

Though she’s been painting since she was a kid, the plywood murals were Michelle’s biggest canvases yet. Under a large “We’re open!” banner, she got to work. She painted four, large plywood panels with words and images – love, peace, unity and a brown fist. She painted <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5yzLfn6I1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">a company message</a> about confronting racism. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“It felt great. A lot of people stopped to chat and to ask if I actually worked at Starbucks and to ask to take pictures,” Michelle said. “Art for me has always been a release. It’s not every day you get to lose yourself in the moment and the movement. Not to be all gung-ho about Starbucks, but I am so proud to be with a company that cares and is for always standing up for what’s right.”

Michelle’s murals outside Starbucks were the first on a long street of shattered windows.

“The street is just blossoming with art now,” Michelle said. “It’s really powerful to see people turning something ugly into something beautiful.”

For Julie, it’s all a perfect metaphor.

“You have to keep moving forward. You have to keep spreading hope. You have to keep going toward what’s right. The first Pride was actually a riot at Stonewall. That was an inflection point, and I do believe this is another inflection point,” Julie said. “This is one of those moments where I think the tide is turning and change will happen.”

There can be beauty among shattered glass – and there can be coffee, she said.

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From shattered glass, Starbucks murals become first ‘blossom’ in a neighborhood rebuilding - Starbucks Stories

From shattered glass, Starbucks murals become first ‘blossom’ in a neighborhood rebuilding

Massive peaceful protests for racial equality at the Wisconsin state capital gave way to destruction and shattered windows in a historic Madison neighborhood.

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska – It seems strange, the preponderance of iced coffees at the Starbucks just 196 miles down the bumpy, frost-heaved road from the Arctic Circle.

Strange, until you consider that for a good portion of the year, stepping into an actual iced coffee would be a whole lot warmer than the air temperature outside, which in the winter can often plummet to 20 below zero.

On a recent Wednesday morning, it was 11 degrees and climbing, on its way to a balmy high of 32 for the day. More than a few people wandered the streets of Fairbanks in T-shirts, shorts and Birkenstocks, and well over half the customers in the cafe were sipping cold drinks.

“Yeah, it’s a whole different interpretation of cold when you live in Alaska,” said Jack Parker, a regular customer. “We'll hit a cold snap between negative 30 and negative 50-some degrees, and then we'll go back to, like, negative five or zero. People are walking around in T-shirts and flip-flops again. The whole concept of what is cold is totally different up here.”

A lot is different up here. There are woodland creatures frolicking everywhere, including ones that wouldn’t mind taking a bite out of you, given the right circumstances. Moose wander down main street and eat the Halloween pumpkins off people’s front porches. At certain times of year, the sun shines 21-plus hours a day, and at other times, a ghostly blue-green ribbon ripples overhead at night – the aurora borealis. Most automobiles have plugs dangling from the front grill to power the engine block heaters, and most local businesses feature a bank of outlets in front. The school kids still go outside for recess when it’s 20 below zero. This is life in Fairbanks, home to the northernmost Starbucks on the planet.

It is also the company’s 50th Military Family Store, a special designation of welcoming and support for some Starbucks stores located near major military bases. Since opening in October, the café has been warmly welcomed by locals and a popular hangout, said Dan Hammer, the store manager.

“I think part of it is that we know we're remote and we know we're isolated and we know we're different. It's part of what's brought people to Fairbanks,” Hammer said. “Fairbanks is still a small town, and it doesn't have a lot of spaces, large community spaces. This store in particular has a nice-sized café and has really been embraced by people. From the day we opened, the cafe's always full. People are getting to know one another. They tell us it's so nice to have a space where they can come. Friends sit and meet people. So, we've really served a good niche in the community in that way.”

Hanging out in the store for the day, swapping stories with Fairbanksians, feels like an unintentional contest to share the most Alaska thing ever. An Alaska-off, if you will.

Take regular customer Jack Parker, who likes to sit at a table in view of the store’s large, original artwork – a laser-etched wooden moose head. Moose feature prominently in Fairbanks, both in real life and city merchandise (followed by bears and wolves, oh my). But moose are no joke, said Parker, a Navy veteran who works for the Army at nearby Fort Wainwright.

“We don’t have fences, so at any point in time you’re going to see a lot of moose in town. A lot of people are like, ‘Oh, hey. I've got to go pet the moose.’ No, you don't pet the moose,” Parker said. “The moose is a few hundred pounds of completely stupid. You're going to get stomped. And man, are they mean.”

Parker said when he and his family lived outside of Fairbanks, a bear took out a moose a mile from their house, which brought all kinds of hungry scavengers, and one season there was also a pack of wolves roaming the neighborhood. Most Alaska thing ever?

But the human inhabitants of Fairbanks are generally very welcoming, Parker said. 

“The amount of support that you're going to get from people here is pretty awesome,” he said. “I've had people show up on the door step with salmon and halibut, you know – it's not uncommon for a neighbor to be like, ‘Hey, we just got some halibut, do you want this halibut?’” 

Customers Richard and Jo Carawan had just gotten their family photos taken. At night. On a frozen lake that they also parked their car on. In front of the aurora borealis. She pulled up a proof of the photo on her iPhone, a gorgeous, surreal photo of a family holding hands in snow and ice and frozen trees with a bright, ghostly glow in the sky above them. Most Alaska thing ever?

“The Northern Lights are always a thing,” she said.

“Even when it’s dark and dreary you can get a photo like that,” she said. 

In certain rooms of their house, they can see the Northern Lights without getting out of bed. But it’s not all exciting animal encounters and epic family photos. There are down sides to living in Fairbanks as well. Namely, local inventory and shipping costs.

The couple said they once ordered a special baby gate to fit an extra-wide doorway. The gate was $80; shipping was $240.

“The joke is, if you can’t find it, Amazon it,” Richard Carawan said. “But you might pay more for shipping than the item itself is actually worth.” 

Customer Michael Dahl summed up life in Fairbanks like this: “There aren’t very many Blockbuster video stores left in the world, and until very recently, we had two in the area. I think that says it all.” 

And then there’s Hammer, the store’s manager, who was sporting a tremendous black eye and a broken cheekbone after he fell trying to avoid colliding with his dog, Tessa, while ice skating with his wife on a frozen lake. Most Alaska thing (injury) ever?

“It doesn’t hurt,” Hammer said, gesturing to his face. Later he told me when he heals he hopes to start skijoring with his dog, which is “when you ski with a tether around your waist that your dog's tethered to and your dog actually pulls you. They love that.”

Hammer said sometimes people forget how far north Alaska is – the Fairbanks store is farther north than St. Petersburg, Russia, and the entire country of Iceland.

“And that's really part of what took time to get a store set up here, just the logistics of getting supplies up here to such a remote market,” Hammer said. “Everything for all the Alaska stores comes up by cargo ship from Seattle. The supplies come into Anchorage port, and then they throw it on the Alaskan Railroad, and the trains bring it up here to Fairbanks. And then those supplies are put on a truck and brought to our store. I just have to make sure I’m on point with the ordering, but it’s worked out. We haven’t run out of much.” 

Many Starbucks stores are open pre-sunrise to post-sunset, dark to dark, and this store would be, too – if the sun followed the same rules in Alaska. The Fairbanks Starbucks is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and at certain times of year, the sun shines in its large windows from open to close and beyond. So, the store also has large shades for those windows when the 22 hours of daylight feel ardent. 

“When we had the short days that peak during the winter solstice in November, we had light for just around three hours a day. So, the sun didn't rise until well after 10 a.m., and it went down around 2:30 p.m.,” Hammer said. “Those are some really short days with not much sun. It's nice to have a space where people can come and be inside and have community. And now, as we're heading into the summer, we're going to get of course 22 hours a day of sunlight. We've got big windows that the sun just kind of blasts through, so it's definitely a yin and yang between the winter and the summer in the feel of this café.”

Parker said coffee and Alaska’s strange rotation of daylight and darkness actually go well together.

“Alaskans drink a lot of coffee,” Parker said. “Here's the thing – we'll make that pot of coffee at 8:30 or nine o'clock at night, and my wife and I will crush the whole pot of coffee. Like, we're probably drinking coffee up until 10 o'clock at night. And I sleep like a rock. And during the day, it doesn't matter how cold it is, I'm always getting an iced coffee. That's just my drink.”

Normally when a new store opens, the staff includes a majority of tenured partners who transfer from other stores. But because the next nearest company-owned store to Fairbanks is in Anchorage, six hours away, transfers weren’t really a possibility. 

“We were definitely slower than other Starbucks at first,” Hammer said. “The thing we focused on was to just be really nice and to really develop those customer relationships early on. Over time the speed has come. The knowledge has come.” 

It’s not all iced coffees in Fairbanks. The breve white mocha is all the rage. 

“I would say, in Alaska, breve drinks seem more popular than they are where I’ve worked elsewhere in the country,” Hammer said. “You know, it's Alaska, so we need our warm drinks and we need something that sticks to the guts. I probably use less non-fat milk here than I have anywhere else. It’s whole milk, half and half, heavy cream.”

Iced coffee and urban moose: Life at the northernmost Starbucks on the planet - Starbucks Stories

Iced coffee and urban moose: Life at the northernmost Starbucks on the planet

It seems strange, the preponderance of iced coffees at the Starbucks just 196 miles down the bumpy, frost-heaved road from the Arctic Circle.

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Life at the northernmost Starbucks on the planet

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