Coffee giant opens community-focused shop — one of only 19 nationwide

Starbucks opens Community Store concept shop near University Mall featuring local employees and local art

By Business Observer Staff
| 2:18 p.m. June 2, 2021
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Courtesy: Starbucks opens Community Store concept shopÂ near University Mall featuring local employees ad local art

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

TAMPA — This is isn’t your typical Starbucks.

The ubiquitous Seattle coffee chain has opened a renovated shop on Fowler Avenue and 15th Street about a mile west of University Mall. What makes this one unique is that it’s just one of only 19 community stores in the country and only the second in Florida.

The community store designation, according to the company, is reserved for shops in economically distressed areas. These shops have dedicated space for community events and have an emphasis on hiring locally. And each one, the company says, partners with a local United Way chapter in order to work on community programs.

The idea is to create “a unique in-store space.”

The renovated Fowler shop features work from Tampa artists Michelle Sawyer and Tony Kroll, including a large mural titled Connecting in Harmony.

Starbucks says it plans to open 100 community stores by 2025.

The other location in Florida is a shop in Miami Gardens.