Starbucks opened two flagship stores in China Monday.
The new locations are in Bejing, and feature a "coffee tribute" store which recognizes coffee's heritage, and leadership at the infamous Kerry Center, and a store open 24-hours in the center of Bejing's Taikoo Li Sanlitun district. The store also resembles modern china.
John Culver, Starbucks group president of the company's china and asia pacific, channel development and emerging brands is grateful for the new locations, which are part of the company's "Starbucks Experience."
"We are very proud of these two new iconic flagship stores in China. The new stores celebrate the unique place that coffee has in the daily lives of Chinese customers, and are a reflection of our near 15-year journey in China since we opened our first store in Beijing in 1999," he said in a statement on the Starbuck's website. "These new stores reflect our commitment to consistently elevate the Starbucks Experience while achieving the balance between representing our 42-year coffee heritage and China's modern lifestyle."
Starbuck's store in the Kerry Center has two stories with coffee bars on each floor. A coffee workshop on the upper level allows customers to divulge themselves in the company's coffees, and take advantage of hand-crafted espresso-beverages made by baristas.
The store also has Chinese brush painted images throughout its interior depicting how coffee beans are grown, sourced, and processed. Customers can also see local artifacts like mooncake molds, and Chinese blue ceramics which illustrate the country's culture.
The 24-hour store is convenient for customers who are on the go, and need their coffee fast, or want to relax and have coffee beverages with friends the company said on its website.
The store, which caters to China's young and trendy crowd, has a courtyard which can be seen through glass windows that go from the ceiling to the floor. Window side bars and patio seats also give customers the opportunity to see views of the outdoors.
On weekends, the store's second floor has live music called "Club 1971." The event, which is named after the year the company was founded attracts people and provides musicians an opportunity to showcase their talents.
"We have been embraced so richly and warmly in China and the flagship stores are our way of celebrating the local community and our customer connection through tangible expressions of the inspiration we drew from Chinese culture, art, music and most importantly, the optimistic and positive energy of its people," Culver said. "Today is a proud moment as we peer into the future of the Starbucks Experience in China with the opening of these two iconic flagship stores."
