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As I recall, Starbucks actually looked into doing some sort of wine bar transformation in the evenings at some locations. They implemented in at least one stor

As I recall, Starbucks actually looked into doing some sort of wine bar transformation in the evenings at some locations. They implemented in at least one store in a Seattle suburb. I'm not a wine drinker, so I just know they had a flyer for it a few years ago. I don't know if it is still on-going. But your point stands: I don't know that one can flip baristas to sommeliers with a switch at 5:00. So is there a shift change? Employees are trained on both? I dunno, I applaud the thinking, but don't know that it's practical. I should run up to the Woodinville SBUX sometime and see if they're still doing it.

Scoundreller 7y ago
I thought it was practical because they already have the real estate and coffee sales gotta drop off a lot in the evening. Pivoting into wine is easier than dinner. And a lot of Starbucks’ customers would like a wine bar and don’t have great alternatives in many areas. Only issue I could see is that a lot of places don’t let you take alcohol out of the bar you served it at.
RandallBrown 7y ago
I'm not sure about any Starbucks that transform into a wine bar, but several of their Reserve locations do serve alcohol.
- ghaff 7y ago
  Ah. Yes, I assume that's what the wine bar idea they were talking about a bit a number of years back has morphed into. https://www.foodandwine.com/news/starbucks-reserve-store-seattle-alcohol https://www.foodandwine.com/news/starbucks-reserve-store-sea... It makes sense although I suspect it's more difficult than is obvious to handle rather different uses at different times of the day. (It's also probably notable that they're doing this in locations that are already pretty differentiated from the standard grab a Cafe Latte in a paper cup on the way into work.)
- mikestew 7y ago
  Now that you bring up specifics, I would believe you are correct. My fuzzy memory kinda confirms that it's more "you can have a glass of wine...or not" rather than "no coffee, only booze".

Scoundreller 7y ago

I thought it was practical because they already have the real estate and coffee sales gotta drop off a lot in the evening. Pivoting into wine is easier than dinner. And a lot of Starbucks’ customers would like a wine bar and don’t have great alternatives in many areas. Only issue I could see is that a lot of places don’t let you take alcohol out of the bar you served it at.

RandallBrown 7y ago

I'm not sure about any Starbucks that transform into a wine bar, but several of their Reserve locations do serve alcohol.

ghaff 7y ago
Ah. Yes, I assume that's what the wine bar idea they were talking about a bit a number of years back has morphed into. https://www.foodandwine.com/news/starbucks-reserve-store-seattle-alcohol https://www.foodandwine.com/news/starbucks-reserve-store-sea... It makes sense although I suspect it's more difficult than is obvious to handle rather different uses at different times of the day. (It's also probably notable that they're doing this in locations that are already pretty differentiated from the standard grab a Cafe Latte in a paper cup on the way into work.)
mikestew 7y ago
Now that you bring up specifics, I would believe you are correct. My fuzzy memory kinda confirms that it's more "you can have a glass of wine...or not" rather than "no coffee, only booze".