Starbucks and Amazon Go Concept Stores Open in New York City
Here’s how it works: Customers who just want a Starbucks takeout can order online and pick it up at the counter, or order from the bartender just like they would at a regular location.
But customers who want to come and spend time in the Amazon Go marketplace, which has booth seating as well as separate desks, countertops and tables for you to grab a quick bite to eat, must follow Amazon’s process.
That means using your credit card, the Amazon app, or the palm of your hand to access the seating area, which has heating and cooling and the usual shelves stocked with food and snacks. and drinks. There are also typical Starbucks meals and snacks, like sous vide custards, croissants, and protein platters. There are also Amazon Go sandwiches and salads, along with local treats, including bagels from Ess-A-Bagel and treats from Dominique Ansel, among other options.
What third place looks like in 2021
Starbucks has long introduced itself as a so-called Tuesday place where you can sip a cappuccino, read a newspaper, listen to a carefully curated list of smooth jazz music, and more and more on 2021, work remotely.
“There is space to connect, space to live, space to connect, space to hold meetings,” said Kathryn Young, Starbucks senior vice president of global growth and development.
It’s also a way to “meet customers where [they] in different places throughout the day. ”
During the pandemic, when the company’s employees stopped coming to the office, Starbucks customers began to change their behavior – drinking coffee later in the day, perhaps after having their first cup at home. Recently, the morning has picked up again, during an analyst call in October, said John Culver, chief executive officer and group president for North America at Starbucks.
It remains to be seen whether customers are comfortable with the Amazon Go concept, which can be frustrating for those who don’t feel comfortable when Amazon surveys their purchases. Young isn’t worried that the format will turn people off, she said.
“Our customers tell us they are excited about the convenience Amazon offers,” she said. For those who aren’t too keen on Amazon Go, “we have options,” she notes. “If you just want to join, [and] Turns out, you are welcome to do that. ”