Starbucks Stores Honor and Connect Military Communities
In September, Starbucks dedicated four new Military Family Stores bringing the total number to 12 in the U.S. These stores support military communities and partner with nonprofit organizations that help veterans and their families.
Hundreds of thousands of Starbucks baristas wear green aprons, but only hundreds wear an apron that showcases the American flag along with a partner’s name and their military affiliation.
The patriotic aprons, recognizing the service and sacrifice of veterans and military spouses, are visible in Starbucks Military Family Stores. A dozen of the special stores have now been dedicated, with more planned for the months ahead. Starbucks Military Family Stores are operated primarily by veterans and military spouses. Each store works with a non-profit organization in the community to provide services for veterans and their families.
Here are photos from four recent store celebrations:
Starbucks Forest Drive and Trenholm Store near Fort Jackson – Columbia, South Carolina
Starbucks partners (employees) welcomed soldiers and family members as well as representatives from Team Red, White and Blue and the USO to this event (on September 22, 2015) in Fort Jackson, Columbia. Mayor Steve Benjamin spoke about the city’s passion for initiatives supporting veterans and their families and expressed his appreciation for the leadership role Starbucks has embraced in supporting veterans and the local Columbia community.
Starbucks Wards Corner Store outside Naval Station Norfolk – Norfolk, Virginia
Naval Station in Norfolk is home to more than 250,000 service members and their families. During this store dedication (September 17), Norfolk City Councilman Barclay Winn shared his pride in seeing transitioning service members find job opportunities with Starbucks. Penny Bolden, senior advisor for Blue Star Families, was in attendance, as were representatives from Team Red, White and Blue.
Starbucks Jacksonville Mall Store outside Camp Lejeune – Jacksonville, North Carolina
On September 16th, representatives from the United Service Organization (USO), Team Red, White and Blue and elected officials attended this dedication along with Master Sergeant Walter Rickett, who oversees 178 Marines at the 2d Supply Battalion on Camp Lejeune. Deb Fisher, director, Jacksonville USO, spoke about the organization’s 73-year history and the importance of developing relationships within military communities.
Starbucks 28th and National Store outside Naval Base San Diego – San Diego, CA
Naval Base San Diego is the workplace for more than 48,000 military and civilian personnel. On September 3, Starbucks partners welcomed City of San Diego Councilmember David Alvarez, Megan Glynn from Blue Star Families and the local community to dedicate the 28th and National Starbucks as the second Military Family Store in San Diego. The first was the Starbucks Oceanside and Interstate 5 store outside Camp Pendleton, the largest Marine Corp training facility on the West Coast.
Read more Starbucks veterans stories here: Paying Tribute and Creating Opportunity
