Starbucks Opens Store in Paris Fashion Institution
Design of new store pays homage to the world of fashion and coffee
Paris, September 24, 2013 –Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) unveiled its newest store located within Paris’ legendary department store and symbol of French art de vivre, Galeries Lafayette. The Starbucks store is featured on the third-floor balcony of the store at the Boulevard Haussmann, located at the center of the Opera shopping district. A second store will open on September 30th at 81 Rue de Provence (9th district).
The store at Boulevard Haussmann has been designed uniquely for its sensational location, built on the 3rd floor balcony with a spectacular view of the Dome of the Galeries. Crafted with locally sourced wood and black marble, brass, glass and metal, the store takes its inspiration from the world of fashion that defines Galeries Lafayette and combines this with the very core of Starbucks – coffee. The iconic Starbucks espresso cup was repurposed as building material, to reflect the brand mission: “one person, one cup, one neighborhood.” 7,400 espresso cups were stacked to cover parts of the walls and build the counter, creating an abstract relief that mixes with other materials.
The store is also a coffee gallery, taking customers on a journey to discover the story of Starbucks coffee heritage and expertise. Before ordering, customers can view a showcase that explains Starbucks roasting process: it is not just a time, temperature or color, it is a philosophy. Another one is devoted to sharing how geography affects the beans’ flavor through tree art featuring the origin and flavor of 9 different coffees.
To offer a magnificent view of the Dome, the seats are arranged on the edge of the balcony, along a marble and brass bar. This refined contemporary store will be a stylish new addition to the French capital store portfolio, giving Galeries Lafayette customers the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing coffee break during their shopping experience with this store inside a store.
Each new store that Starbucks opens showcases its commitment to creating locally relevant design, and in this case, reflects the fashion heritage and elegance of Galeries Lafayette. Ad de Hond, vice president, store design & concepts Starbucks EMEA, says “Galeries Lafayette is an institution known around the world representing the best of French fashion. To uphold this reputation, our Starbucks store design team created a store that would echo this atmosphere and complement the customer’s shopping experience”. He adds by saying, “Starbucks has always been about making a connection with customers, and by taking inspiration from our local surroundings, our store design will help create a more meaningful experience and offer special moments of discovery for customers when they visit.”
From today on, Galeries Lafayette customers will be able to enjoy freshly-brewed coffee and handcrafted beverages, served by true coffee experts – the baristas in the iconic green aprons. Additionally, the store will offer a wide variety of food items, including customers’ favorite Starbucks pastries, for a restful moment with a spectacular view.
With these two store openings, Starbucks continues its commitment to creating sustainably designed, locally relevant stores. Last year, Starbucks opened a store in the exclusive London area of Mayfair on Vigo Street and gave it a high-profile design treatment by restoring the eloquence of the store’s original Georgian architectural features. Earlier this year, another unique Starbucks store opened on the iconic Bloemenmarkt in the heart of Amsterdam. The idea behind the store design was to reflect the centuries-old history of Amsterdam’s canal district. These designs, like the new store at Galleries Lafayette, are steeped in local culture and designed to reflect history of the space and the neighbourhood.
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About Starbucks Coffee Company
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, 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 www.starbucks.com.
About Galeries Lafayette
A temple of contemporary fashion, Galeries Lafayette provide fashion for all with a wide selection of brands, from the most prestigious to the most accessible. For over 100 years Galeries Lafayette have prided themselves on seeking out the newest designers and fashion trends in order to deliver an intense fashion experience. Located in the very heart of Paris, the flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann is home to not only the largest fashion collections in the world but also gourmet food and drink and home decoration departments. The store provides over 60 000m² of shopping and 2500 brands from around the world. If Paris is the world’s capital of fashion, Galeries Lafayette is its shop window. Today the Galeries Lafayette network extends to 65 stores, including 60 in France and five around the world in Berlin, Casablanca, Dubai, Jakarta and Beijing. For more information: www.galerieslafayette.com
For more information please contact :
Edelman for Starbucks EMEA
Sagar Boers
[email protected]
+31 (0)20 3010 980