Starbucks updates dress code to highlight green apron
Starbucks is rolling out a new dress code for baristas to enhance the visibility of the brand’s signature green apron and create a more unified look.
unbranded – Newsworthy
Starbucks brewed up something new to build its latest store: a 3D printer.
The coffee giant’s newest shop opening this week is its first 3D printed store in the country, Starbucks said.
The 1,400-square-foot location in Brownsville, Texas, is slated to open on May 2, Manuel Chacon, the city’s director of communications and marketing told USA TODAY. It will offer drive-thru and mobile pick up service only.
Starbucks confirmed the opening date to USA TODAY Wednesday but did not comment further. The company referred USA TODAY to videos of the project it posted on social media.
While 3D printing technology is not new, Starbucks is among the first retailers to use the machinery to build a storefront. Last year, a Walmart in Tennessee constructed a 3D printed addition to its store spanning 8,000 square feet.
Here’s what to know about the new Starbucks and the technology used to build it.
Where is Starbucks’ new 3D printed store?
Starbucks’ 3D printed store is located in Brownsville, Texas, which is at the southernmost tip of the state along the Mexico border.
The location, on Boca Chica Boulevard, is the chain’s fourth shop in the city of more than 190,000 people.
What is a 3D printer?
Similar to a traditional printer, a 3D printer uses a computer to create a product but instead joins material together to create a three-dimensional object.
They place materials by layering and fusing together layers from the bottom up, according to CDWG, an information technology company.
While the devices have been around since the 1980s, there are a slew of model types on the market with different uses. Generally, 3D printers are faster and cheaper than other methods, according to CDWG.
How a 3D printer built a Starbucks store
In recent years, 3D printers have been increasingly used for the construction of buildings and homes. A neighborhood of 3D printed homes was completed last year in Texas.
Starbucks said the store was built by PERI 3D Construction. The Germany-based company did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment, but says on its website that it uses a type of construction printer from the manufacturer COBOD.
The BOD2 printer uses a steel nozzle to print concrete layers, according to COBOD. The printer’s advantages include reducing the amount of plastering and post-treatment of walls and reducing water evaporation because of minimized wall surface area, according to the company.
Recent changes at Starbucks: menu items, dress code
Starbucks has unveiled several changes in recent months, from menu items to company policies.
Earlier this month, the company announced a new dress code policy for baristas, requiring them to stick to a solid black top to enhance the signature green apron.
It also simplified its menu by removing some underperforming items and reversed its open-door restroom policy as part of the “Back to Starbucks” strategy instituted by Brian Niccol, who became Starbucks’ chief executive in September 2024.
Contributing: Mike Snider, Anthony Robledo
Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY. She can be reached at MKhan@gannett.com.
