Even as Starbucks conquered the US coffee market, small-time “java hut” kiosks sold similar drinks without amenities like tables or power outlets. Now, Starbucks is drawing from this model while adding its trademark branding and a veneer of respectability. A new Colorado store, profiled by FastCo.Design, is built on a generic modular frame and delivered by truck, but its facade is made of locally sourced material that design manager Anthony Perez hopes will “feel like... part of the local environment.” If this pilot program is successful, Starbucks could expand with a line of stores that are simple to build and run but don’t feel as transient as current pop-up designs by Samsung and others — and provide a model for scaling up custom construction.
Modular Starbucks store turns local design into a mass-produced aesthetic
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
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