The Milan store has created nearly 300 jobs in Italy and has been described as “the most beautiful Starbucks in the world” in a press release.
The “roastery” is located in Milan’s Palazzo della Poste, in Piazza Cordusio, just streets away from iconic landmarks such as the Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Teatro alla Scala.
Following a grand opening celebration yesterday, the store will open its doors today at 9:00 am local time.
“During my first trip to Milan in 1983, I was captivated by the sense of community I found in the city’s espresso bars – the moments of human connection that passed so freely and genuinely between baristas and their customers. The opening of the Milan Roastery is the story of Starbucks coming full circle,” chairman emeritus of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, said.
“Everything we have experienced, since that first moment of inspiration 35 years ago to now being a daily part of millions of people’s lives around the world, we bring with great respect to Italy.
“On behalf of the 350,000 partners who wear the green apron and millions before them, I am so proud and humbled to bring our Italian customers an experience that is the very best of Starbucks.”
Starbucks’ arrival in Italy – the company’s 78th global market – is unlike any other opening in its history.
It marks the first time the company has established its retail presence in a new country with the roastery format, of which only two others exist in the world: the Seattle roastery, which opened in 2014, and the roastery in Shanghai, which debuted in 2017.
As part of this format, the marble-floored store will offer a “theatre of coffee roasting, brewing and mixology”, alongside cocktails, pizza, bread and ice cream.
Starbucks opened its first European store 20 years ago in London.
Since then, it has established more than 3100 stores in 40 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Starbucks has announced plans to bring additional cafes to Milan beginning late 2018.
