Starbucks is the most frequented place for coffee enthusiasts not only in South Korea but also around the world. While you can find Starbucks stores everywhere, some offer unique and unusual experiences that you won’t find elsewhere. Coffee enthusiasts worldwide often share Starbucks’ unique stores as must-visit destinations. Let’s take a look at some of the unique Starbucks stores around the world.
CIA Starbucks
When you use “Siren Order” to order at Starbucks, they call your nickname when your order is ready. However, there is one store where this rule does not apply. The only Starbucks store in the world where Starbucks’ “Call My Name” service is not used is inside the CIA. In this store, Starbucks employees do not call out customers’ nicknames. This is because CIA agents should not reveal their identities, and even the receipts do not have addresses.
Aircraft Carrier Starbucks
Starbucks opens stores wherever people are looking for coffee, even if it’s on the sea. You can find Starbucks stores on the USS Boxer, a landing ship where Navy personnel live for extended periods. This Starbucks store is inside an aircraft carrier to ensure people can enjoy their coffee even when the boat is not docked on land. Starbucks employees onboard also spend extended periods alongside Navy personnel.
Busan Exodus Sky Point
In South Korea, a Starbucks store is located at the highest point in the world, the Exodus Sky Observatory (99th floor) at Haeundae Elcity. It is even higher than the Seoul Tower Store on Namsan Mountain, offering a stunning view of Busan, including Haeundae Beach, Gwangan Bridge, Marine City, and Dongbaek Island. However, to visit this store, you must pay an entrance fee to the observatory.
USA Gilmore Gas Station LA Branch
You can find a Starbucks store converted from an abandoned gas station in the USA. The “Gilmore Gas Station LA Store,” opened by Starbucks in 2015, is currently operated as a drive-thru-only Starbucks. Although the store does not have indoor seating, it has a small outdoor terrace where customers can enjoy coffee and snacks. This store is located at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles.
Mexico Prado Norte
In Mexico City, Prado Norte offers a Starbucks store with a beautiful and unique design that is not found anywhere else in the world. This Starbucks store features a white exterior decorated with beautiful tile work, showcasing Spanish-style architecture. Located in the heart of Mexico City, the store also has a small fountain and a large arched doorway. It has an outdoor terrace, making it an ideal spot to enjoy coffee while taking in the sights of Mexico City.
Costa Rica Alajuela Farm Store
Starbucks is in Costa Rica, where it operates the “Costa Rica Coffee Farm Store.” If you make a reservation in advance, you can take a guided tour of the entire process of making a cup of coffee from coffee beans at this store. The store is located on a coffee farm in Costa Rica, and visitors can learn about the coffee-making process from expert guides.
Morocco Franklin Roosevelt Villa
In Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, you can find Starbucks in the form of the “Franklin Roosevelt Villa.” The store features unique Mediterranean plant decorations on its exterior, and it’s known as one of the most beautiful Starbucks stores in the world. The store offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere with its preserved vintage charm.
Taiwan Hualien Bay Mall Starbucks
In Taiwan, you can find a uniquely designed Starbucks store near the Chu Lu Mei Aquarium, the world’s second-largest aquarium. The “Hualien Bay Mall Starbucks” is surrounded by nature and offers an ocean view. It uses Okinawa pine for all its tables, and on the second floor, large windows provide a panoramic view of the ocean. The first floor features a community space with tables crafted by local artisans using Ryukyu pine.
Community Store Gyeongdong 1960 Branch
Kyungdong Theater, located in Kyungdong Market, has been reborn as “Starbucks Kyungdong 1960.” This theater, built in the 1960s and unused for a long time, has now been transformed into a Starbucks store. It operates as a “Starbucks Community Store,” where 300 won from the sale of each product is saved and used as a regional mutual fund for Kyungdong Market. This Starbucks store retains the nostalgic atmosphere of the Kyungdong Theater.
Japan Okinawa Motobu Branch
In Okinawa, a popular tourist destination for South Koreans visiting Japan, you can find a Starbucks store where you can enjoy coffee with nature. The “Okinawa Motobu Branch” is near the Churaumi Aquarium, the world’s second-largest aquarium. It features a unique design with all tables made from Okinawa pine. Additionally, the second floor offers a broad panoramic ocean view through large windows. The first floor includes a community space with tables crafted by local artisans using Ryukyu pine.
By. Choi Deok-su (press@daily.co.kr)
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