Starbucks is pioneering the ‘coffeehouse of the future’ with comfy chairs and couches as its CEO pushes to reimagine its stores

(Credit: Courtesy of Starbucks Coffee Co.)

• Starbucks is introducing premium features, including comfortable couches, warm lighting, and revamped wall art in redesigned stores starting in New York and Southern California. The changes align with CEO Brian Niccol’s Back to Starbucks plan, which aims to get customers to stick around locations longer, by adding ceramic mugs for some in-house orders and bringing back the condiment bar at U.S. locations.

CEO Brian Niccol has pushed for Starbucks to be more inviting to customers, and now some of its locations are seeing major changes aligned with his vision.