World’s Largest Starbucks Arriving in Chicago on November 15th
To all coffee lovers out there, the wait is finally over. On Friday, November 15th, Chicago will join Seattle and New York as the third city in the United States, and the sixth internationally, to boast a one-of-a-kind coffee experience through its eclectic Reserve Roastery.
The Starbucks Coffee Company announced its plan to open its Chicago Reserve Roastery back in April 2017, after having opened one in its birthplace of Seattle in December 2014. Though this new branch clearly isn’t the first in chronological order, it certainly is in size. The street corner of North Michigan Avenue and Erie Street pops with a glassy, four-story retail building occupying a space of 43,000 square feet. On top of the four stories situates an outdoor rooftop, adorned with an array of mini-tables and life-sized plants, so hurry up there before it gets colder.
As you enter this vast emporium and wander past the 200 employees, prepare yourself to be overwhelmed by the plethora of unique creations, from exclusive brewing methods to coffee crafts, each “inspired by the culture and traditions of Chicago,” as Chief Operating Officer Roz Brewer told the Chicago Tribune. Aside from its massive size and upscale essence, the Roastery is distinct from typical Starbucks cafes in that it offers customers a particular intimate experience through interactive tours and on-site coffee bean roasting and baking sessions. It also features a full kitchen, granting consumers the opportunity to create themselves, whether it be desserts, pizzas, or salads.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai, via CNN
In regards to the roastery’s location at a noteworthy cultural crossroad, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel remarks, “Chicago’s Magnificent Mile brings in millions of visitors from across the globe and is the perfect location for a world-class coffee destination. This Starbucks reserve roastery will be an investment in Chicago and a strong addition to Michigan Avenue, where residents and visitors can enjoy incredible coffees from around the world in a remarkable environment.”
Since its birth in 1971, the world has witnessed a spiraling expansion of Starbucks as it spreads its branches across multiple cities in and beyond the U.S. With the arrival of their sixth reserve roastery, we can only see it ever growing in its cultural motif.
Barista preparing drinks at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo, via Chicago Tribune
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