Starbucks Adding Beer & Wine at 24 Locations

August 19, 2015  — Since 2010 Starbucks has been cautiously testing offering wine and beer at various stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Florida, Oregon and Washington.  The program known as “Evenings” is designed to attract customers after 4:00 p.m. when most people avoid a caffeine jolt.

The new locations opening today in Denver, Miami, Orlando and Northern California markets will bring the total of stores featuring Evenings to 70.  Eventually more than 2,000 of Starbucks’12,000 coffee shops in the U.S. will have liquor licenses.
Along with a selection of beers and wines, small plates will be available such as bacon wrapped dates with balsamic glaze and Parmesan crusted chicken.  The emphasis will be on local beers and wines.  Like coffee in the morning, patrons will pick up their drink at the counter and to make it convenient, wine will be served in stemless glasses. The baristas are being trained to be knowledgeable about the drink menu and the company is focused on creating spaces and seating that will work well throughout the day into the evening.

An evening drink at Starbucks offers a safe, casual environment especially appealing to women who make up 60 percent of their Evenings customers so far. Starbucks has also found that groups such as book clubs are comfortable in the environment as it is actually be possible to have a conversation!  Evenings is also becoming a popular spot for meeting online dates for the first time.

Stores offering Evenings can be found on the Starbucks website.