There are some major changes afoot — temporarily — as Starbucks Corp. ramps up to open its US stores, which have been closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Starting on May 4, the coffee giant will begin opening its stores in the US and Canada. It expects to have approximately 90% of all company-operated US Starbucks stores reopened by early June in various formats with enhanced safety protocols and modified schedules. The emphasis will be on mobile order and pay. Starbucks noted that pre-COVID, 80% of US store customer visits were for to-go take-away.
Customers will not be allowed inside most of the locations. Instead, orders will be picked up at an “entryway hand-off,” a new area set up in the entry of stores where customers can pick up their pre-ordered beverages without actually entering the café, or at the drive-thru.
Later in the summer, Starbucks plans to add curbside service in locations where parking is available… Chain Store Age