Today marks the grand opening of the third Starbucks in Seattle’s University Village shopping area. It opened at 6:00 this morning – I arrived at about 7:00 and took all of these photos. I want to tell you that this store has it all: This a Clover – Reserve Starbucks location; This is slated to be an “Evenings” store (meaning beer and wine will be available, and more food options) in December; This store has the new Google WiFi available. And, it’s gorgeous.
I took a series of photos, and I hope you’ll simply click onto the photos, linger, enjoy, gasp, and think it’s gorgeous too. The store is designed with a large front seating area, a small side area with a map of the coffee growing belt, and a backroom of seating with two circular tables. The intent is that the backroom would also be perfect for coffee education events or a meeting space, as well as simply adding to the store’s seating. When you look at the map of the coffee growing belt, one thing that might not be obvious is that it is literally made out of sample cups. The sample cups have small plastic bottom (think of a thumbtack) with either a green or a brown bottom. The green bottomed cups represent the coffee growing belt, which is the latitudes between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The mirrors hanging above the menu boards make the store feel very spacious. As I understand it, they are old mirrors that came out of a bar.
I know it’s a little confusing that the University Village shopping area has three company-operated Starbucks, and one licensed store, all within a fairly small space. This newest store is located along the South edge of University Village, where there recently was an newly-constructed parking garage. The address and phone are as follows: Starbucks store #20088, 2623 NE University Village Street, Seattle, WA 98105, (206) 523 1718.
Take a look at this brand new store (I included a screenshot from my phone to show that Google WiFi is available):
(The other company-operated Starbucks stores are the tiny store at the North end of the shopping area; and the large iconic store that has been at University Village since 1972.)
What do you think?
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Uhm, I love it! These stores are so cool! I love that sample cup mural of the coffee belt! Those little unique touches are what takes a nice Starbucks to the next level. I’m definitely going to have to add the whole University Village Experience to my list of Starbucks Seattle to-do list!!!
I love it!
It looks absolutely stunning. As you say the map made out of coffee cups is amazing. I love the merchandise wall also, it looks really wonderful.
So glad to have you as neighbors!
So beautiful!! All these Clover stores! Someday, I will get to one…someday!
Wow, this store is really nice. I love it all and especially the very inviting front door and windows. Just a very inviting feel to that window and door with all the wood trim. I have an antique coffee grinder like the one pictured in the bottom picture. It’s a true treasure and I love that some of the stores are incorporating them and other coffee items in their displays now.
OMG what a beautiful store! Great pics Melody. I would be curious if more customers will migrate to this new store from the other stores. Ok again I wonder just because it is Seattle you get this beautiful new store? I never see such attention paid to new store designs outside of Seattle! Ok maybe here and there, but not around here.
Agreed: great-looking store! Thanks for the photos. Now we just need a screenshot of the speed test using Google Wi-Fi. 🙂
I wonder if in four years you will be writing a review of the 4th Starbucks location in U-Villlage! It sure has changed over the years. Hopefully I will get a chance to visit this location sometime soon.
Love the store’s design! What is the shelf with the shadow box? It looks like unutilized space right now… is it going to be a coffee wall bay? Or do customers use it?
This has to be one of the most beautiful stores I’ve seen in a long time!
@CamSpi – Sorry I am so late in replying to you. Hope you see this. The shelves with the shadow box are supposed to be filled in with more coffee type things – whole bean (Reserve), displays related to coffee, that kind of thing. But I took photos right when the store was open early, and the design team started filling in those shelves after I took my pics!
@Melody Gotcha! I figured the design team wouldn’t miss an opportunity for AHC sales. I love the shadow boxes. Thanks for your reply!