Starbucks Opens 2nd FL Store For Underserved Neighborhoods

Tampa FL

02 June, 2021

9:23 PM

Description

TAMPA, FL — Starbucks is celebrating the opening of its newest Community Store, the first to be located in Tampa Bay. The renovated store, located at 1501 E. Fowler Ave. and 15th Street in the University area, is the second Starbucks Community Store in Florida and the 19th in the nation. Starbucks launched its Community Store Program initiative five years ago, committing to open 100 Community Stores in underrepresented urban and rural communities with high youth unemployment and low median household incomes by 2025. The Starbucks Community Stores focus on local hiring, partnerships with local nonprofits and civic leaders, working with diverse contractors and artists, and offering a unique in-store space for local events and programs. The renovation for this location was done by BRV who helped construct Florida's first Community Store in Miami Gardens. As part of the renovation, the store now showcases local artwork by Tampa residents Michelle Sawyer and Tony Kroll. StarbucksThe store features a mural by Tampa residents Michelle Sawyer and Tony Kroll titled "Connecting in Harmony.""We believe it is our role and responsibility to partner with those in the communities we serve to help make a positive economic and social impact," said John Kelly, executive vice president of public affairs at Starbucks. "These stores are successful and it's time to expand the model. Over the last five years, we've seen these Community Stores empower our partners and customers to create meaningful impact that is localized and relevant to their neighborhoods. We've learned a great deal from our 19 Community Stores and applied those learnings to how we approach community partnership in more than 8,000 neighborhoods we serve across the country." The Community Stores will share several common aspects compared to other Starbucks cafes, including: locations in economically distressed communities; a designated room or space for community events and programming; a partnership with a local United Way chapter to facilitate relevant community programs; a focus on working with diverse contractors for store construction and remodels; and an emphasis on hiring locally. Starbucks estimates its Community Stores have helped: Create more than 300 local jobs and connect young people to education and employment opportunities.Generate more than $59.7 million in indirect economic development created from store construction and over 1,100 indirect jobs.Identify and eliminate barriers to entry that prevent diverse-owned contractors from competing successfully to build stores for the company.Provide 19 community spaces decorated with local artwork that reflects the personality and heart of each community. As part of Starbucks national partnership with United Way, local United Ways and 211s in targeted communities will work with Community Store partners to create resources and programs for each community from life skills training for youth to mentorship programs and beyond. That includes facilitating activities at the stores that support people in the community, providing Starbucks partners with customized community profiles and resource information and connecting partners with volunteer activities that help create real change in the communities in which they live and work. "United Way and Starbucks share a commitment to ensuring every person has the opportunity to thrive, and we're honored to partner with them," said Suzanne McCormick, U.S. president of United Way Worldwide. "United Way has been connecting people to resources across the U.S. for more than 130 years, and we look forward to deploying United Way's local expertise and experience to help Starbucks Community Stores make a real difference."