Starbucks to go big in Empire State Building with 23,000-sq.-ft. store

Starbucks is opening a one-of-a-kind destination in New York City.

On November 16, the coffee giant will open a Starbucks Reserve Roastery at the landmark Empire State Building. The store will take over three floors and span 23,000 sq. ft., and will be the seventh location in Starbucks’ Reserve portfolio. The Reserve concept made its debut in 2014, in Seattle. Additional locations include Shanghai, Milan, Tokyo, Chicago and New York City’s Meatpacking District.

Similar to other Reserve locations, the Empire State outpost will offer a wide variety of coffee-related experiences, including signature and new coffee beverages, coffee-inspired cocktails and food. But it will also feature exclusive and unique experiences, including hosting interactive mixology classes led by Starbucks baristas and mixologists.

Other experiences will include tasting flights and food pairings, including one beverage flight that highlights Starbucks Espresso. The location will boast an exclusive menu provided by its Princi bakery that includes curated, shareable plates and entrees for all parts of the day.

“For almost three decades we have grown alongside the city of New York, where people from around the world gather to connect, explore, and share ideas,” said Mark Ring, senior VP of U.S. retail at Starbucks. “The Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store will bring people together in this diverse and dynamic city over incredible coffee and food experiences that celebrate human connection, which is at the heart of the Starbucks experience.”

Starbucks’ history in New York City dates to 1994. The company has operated stores in the Empire State Building since 2008. 

“It has been our privilege to partner with Starbucks on this fantastic space, which is an expression of their coffee culture and quality,” said Anthony E. Malkin, chairman, president, and CEO at Empire State Realty Trust. “Tenants and visitors to the Empire State Building – recently named Tripadvisor’s No. 1 attraction in the U.S. – will benefit from this amazing new store, as will everyone in the neighborhood.”

In September, Starbucks unveiled aggressive growth plans that included opening 2,000 net new stores in the U.S. by 2025. It also is expanding in China, which ranks as its second biggest market outside of the U.S.

[Read More: Starbucks to open one store nearly every nine hours in China for next three years]

Headquartered in Seattle, Starbucks Coffee Company operates more than 35,000 stores worldwide.