Starbucks is the ubiquitous coffee house we’ve all come to rely on, for better or worse. But with low-cost competitors ramping up their gourmet coffee offerings, Starbucks is looking for new ways to stay on top. And, since their coffee is already a gourmet, high-quality product, the one area the company has set out to improve is its stores. Every new store Starbucks opens is to be LEED certified and will meet stringent sustainability standards. This environmentally-friendly redesign of its stores will also include new colors and an updated, laid back design tenor that is intended to make the stores feel like they’ve been part of the neighborhood for years.
“It’s the biggest undertaking of design of any retailer in the world,” says Arthur Rubinfeld, global development chief at Starbucks. “This is all about elevating the brand’s position worldwide.”
Rubinfeld also adds that a minor redesign can cost $25,000, while a new construction can exceed $400,000.