Starbucks rolls out beer and wine sales in Seattle store

Seattle’s East Olive Way Starbucks is again on the forefront of Starbucks innovation. The newly-remodeled shop is now offering beer and wine sales. Dependent upon how the new offerings go, Starbucks could expand the beer and wine to new markets. For Starbucks, this could really well be an intelligent business move. Northwest suppliers are viewing this as a large possibility as well.

Ale and wine at Starbucks

The E. Olive Way Starbucks store in Seattle began selling ale and wine yesterday. As of right now, this is the only Starbucks store with an expanded menu, but industry watchers expect that if it goes well, this could well be expanded to many stores. Starbucks is going to do well. It was a good move to make. The business for Starbucks in the afternoon is dead. About 70 percent of business comes in before 2 p.m. While the “treat receipt” push — which gave customers with a drink receipt from that morning a $2 drink after 2 p.m. — had some effect, the stores simply require more afternoon business. By selling beer and wine, Starbucks could very well bring in that much-needed afternoon business that would boost same-store sales.

A possibility for Northwest suppliers

Selling ale and wine from Starbucks is a good thing for Northwest wineries and breweries. It is an opportunity in the making. There are many Northwestern vineyards at the E. Olive Way shop. Involved are Ste. Michelle and also the Hedges Family Estate. The beers offered include well-known Northwest brews. Seems like that wine and beer may be introduced to the world in the way that Starbucks introduced different coffees to the world.

The question of cost of Starbucks ale and wine

There is the concern of cost when it comes to wine and beer at Starbucks. Numerous want to know if it can be expensive. Starbucks officials have been quoted as saying that even the best cup of coffee would cost less than a mediocre glass of wine. Starbucks has changed the way America orders their coffee. It is almost always with a variety of extras added in. Will customers need a no payday loans no fax to pay for wine since coffee drinks are already at $4 normally?

Articles cited

Beyond the bottle

beyondthebottle.com/blog/2010/10/starbucks-serving-wine-beer-seattle.html

Newsfeed.com

newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/19/from-one-addiction-to-the-next-starbucks-to-offer-beer-and-wine/