Starbucks opens Community Store in Watts Neighborhood of L.A.
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.
2449 E Century Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90002
Today, Starbucks opened a new Community Store in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA as part of the company’s ongoing 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. Each store also features a dedicated space that will be used in partnership with local organizations to serve the needs of the community.
Local Impact
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, Mike Norice, 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 committed to opening 100 community stores by 2025.
