Starbucks To Move Into Famous Galeries Lafayette
Starbucks just got a whole lot more chic.
On Monday, July 15, Starbucks announced a partnership with the French luxury department store Galeries Lafayette. The coffee chain will be opening two stores in the famous high-end clothing chain by the end of the summer. Both stores will be located in Paris' 9th arrondisement, with the first opening at Galeries Lafayette's flagship store, Haussmann. Starbucks says it will work to maintain the high-end atmosphere and architecture of the department store.
A press release from Starbucks also mentioned that within the next few years, the coffee shop will add locations to Galeries Lafayette locations across the France. Doug Satzman, senior vice president of business development & channel operations for Starbucks, says in the press release, "We are delighted for the opportunity to add Starbucks to the world famous brands that are already present inside the Galeries Lafayette department stores." Galeries Lafayette's Director of the Food and Restaurant of the Grands Magasins brand Philippe Thomas says that the partnership with Starbucks is proof of the group's commitment to provide shoppers with a wide variety of food and beverage offerings.
Starbucks has been developing a strong European standing. The first French Starbucks Coffee opened in January 2004 near the famous Opera Garnier. Today, Starbucks has 83 coffee shops in major French cities, like Paris, Marseille, Nice, and Lyon, with a total of 1,012 employees. Starbucks is continuing to open across Europe, from airport to drive-thru locations.