TOKYO — Starbucks Coffee Co. has selected Tokyo’s upscale Nakameguro District as the site for a new Starbucks Reserve Roastery. The Roastery, which will be the company’s fourth globally, is expected to open in 2018.
Starbucks opened its first Roastery in Seattle in 2014 and since then has unveiled plans to open locations in Shanghai, China, in 2017 and New York in 2018.
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| Howard Schultz, chairman and c.e.o. of Starbucks |
“As it was when we opened Japan as our first market outside of North America in 1996, the country continues to be an important and dynamic coffee community for Starbucks,” said Howard Schultz, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks. “We are proud to bring our customers a distinct, immersive and innovative retail experience that celebrates the craft of coffee in an unprecedented way. We are honored to be collaborating with Kengo Kuma in creating an experience that will bring our Japanese customers closer to our coffee and partners (employees) than ever before.”
Kengo Kuma is an architect and founder of Kuma Lab at the University of Tokyo. Mr. Kuma is recognized around the world for his “cutting-edge designs and innovative theories on architecture and society,” Starbucks said. It will be Starbucks second design collaboration with Mr. Kuma. He previously designed the company’s store in Fukuoka, Japan.
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| Kengo Kuma, architect and founder of Kuma Lab at the University of Tokyo |
“I look forward to building on my longstanding relationship with Starbucks to create a place that reflects the culture and people of this exquisite neighborhood to become one of the most iconic destinations in the city of Tokyo,” Mr. Kuma said.
Starbucks said the 13,000-square-foot store will provide an “all-sensory environment.” The Roastery will include artisan food and bread baked on site by Princi.
