The Roastery will occupy a space that has served as a flagship for Crate and Barrel for many years, a further signal that retail is giving way to restaurants and experience-based spaces.
Much like its flagship Seattle location, Starbucks will dedicate its new Chicago Roastery to roasting, brewing and packaging its small-batch Reserve coffees. The four-story, 43,000-square-foot space will also offer multiple brewing methods, specialty Reserve beverages and mixology.
For a deep dive into coffee and tea restaurants, check out this feature.
Starbucks will also include fresh baking on-site in all Reserve Roastery locations courtesy of Italian baker Rocco Princi. Princi’s food will also be available in the company’s new Reserve stores, a retail concept inspired by the Roastery but not yet open to the public. Starbucks plans to open a Reserve store in Chicago’s West Loop area in 2018 and Seattle in 2017. During last year’s Investor Day, Starbucks confirmed plans to open 20 to 30 Roastery locations, globally, over time and up to 1,000 Reserve stores.
The first Reserve Roastery opened in Seattle in December 2014 and Starbucks plans to open a New York City location in 2018. International locations are slated to open in Shanghai in late 2017 and in Milan and Tokyo in 2018.