Chicago & The Starbucks Reserve Roastery: A Delicious Partnership
An iconic brand. An iconic city. A one-of-a-kind community partnership.
When Starbucks first arrived in Chicago in 1987, the brand wasn’t the worldwide coffee phenom it is today. In fact, it was only available in Chicago and its home city of Seattle. So to say that the Windy City and Starbucks have been linked since the beginning would be quite the understatement. The influence of Starbucks’ coffee beans and Chicago’s coffee and food scene have grown exponentially over the years, but they never lost touch.
That’s why Chicago was an obvious choice for the location of the largest Starbucks store in the world. Growth began here decades ago, and all that success and mutual respect culminated in the 2019 opening of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago on Michigan Avenue {646 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago; 312.283.7100}. This flagship of community support and culinary partnership opened to a city of coffee-lovers.
But if you think you know the whole love affair of Starbucks and Chicago, you might be missing out. Let’s spill the beans…
It’s all about Starbucks love for Chicago
It’s about the city of Chicago and Starbucks love of the city. When the Reserve Roastery was being built, Chicago’s ethos was woven into the fabric of the experience.
The location on the Magnificent Mile was carefully selected to put the Roastery at the heart of the city. Local artists created murals and artwork to be showcased throughout the multi-level space while home-town bartenders designed innovative, Chicago-exclusive coffee cocktails that pay homage to the cultures and traditions of the city. And they’ve partnered with local chocolatier, Chocolate Uzma, to create exclusive Starbucks chocolates with specific coffee pairings in mind that enhand the flavor of both the coffee and the chocolate.
Reserve Roastery General Manager Shauna McKenzie-Lee explains this collaboration simply: “We’re all here to weave into Chicago and the vibrant and diverse community surrounding us. We have a whole wall dedicated to our love affair with this city. Chicago is home.”
That commitment and passion for the community extends far beyond the walls of the Roastery, however.
What IS it about? Becoming a part of our city.
Aside from showcasing local merchants, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery’s Chicago team has worked hard to give back to the city that welcomed them with open arms. Indeed, their work touches every part of the city; the staff volunteers to clean and beautify Chicago Public Schools, provides ongoing support to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and partners with Dine-It-4ward to help support other restaurants in the area.
“The kindness, warmth, and genuine desire to help each other is so energizing in this community,” McKenzie-Lee says.
That giving spirit became more important during the pandemic, which hit our city hard. True to its charitable roots, Starbucks was ready to help, making necessity kits to share with people experiencing homelessness, securing essential surgical masks for workers on the frontline, and, as a symbol of hope, sharing over two thousand pounds of coffee with our community hospitals, first responders, food pantries, and citizens.
And that’s only the beginning...
McKenzie-Lee and her Chicago team start every day with a cup of coffee and the mission to “share our boundless passion to connect and strengthen our Chicago communities with an unapologetic pursuit of education, inclusion, and joy.”
That is a DAILY goal that will last far beyond this month or year. It’s a mission that means McKenzie-Lee and the Starbucks Reserve Roastery team will continue to show our city love in every way possible.
“Chicago is a world class city with a pride and swagger that you can only find here,” McKenzie-Lee says. “We’re just happy to be a part of it all and can’t wait for what’s to come in our Windy City home.”
By Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor