Starbucks has been opening small-footprint, prefabricated modular units since 2011. But this month marks the first time the coffee giant carted one of those 450-square-foot stores across town—to make way for a full-sized spot.
The prefab unit, made of recycled shipping containers, was so popular that the brand opted to open a larger location in its place, Starbucks said in a release. The small-footprint store was moved from its location in Northglenn, Colo., to a new spot on the other side of Interstate 25.
The LEED-certified, sustainable mini stores are built off-site using shipping units and reclaimed materials, allowing Starbucks to open drive-thru and walk-up locations on “sites not designed for traditional store locations,” the company said.
A Starbucks spokesperson says the chain has no plans to move any of its other prefabricated units. It took Starbucks three weeks to close down the modular store, transport it and open the larger location.
Starbucks continues to experiment with the square footage of its units, transforming some traditional locations into large-scale roastery formats while continuing to build small-footprint versions.
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