If you visited a Starbucks store around the year 2000, you’ll probably remember it. That stuffed purple armchair, wide enough to stretch out on. It was the best seat in the house – and revolutionary in its own way.
When we opened in 1971, we offered no seating at all – we added stools and dining chairs when we opened our first espresso bars in 1987. But as the company grew, our stores evolved to become a third place between home and work. In 1996 we overhauled our aesthetic accordingly, abandoning stiff elements for a more lived-in look. Hello, purple chair.
The chair became a mainstay as we expanded into new markets like Germany, Argentina and China. All over the world, it made people feel at home. But although it was iconic, it wasn’t very practical. The fabric was easily worn and hard to keep clean.
In 2008, we began a major shift in design philosophy as part of our transformation plan. We bid farewell to the purple chair – but its memory lives on.
