By Sept. 5, 2025, Starbucks has begun a program to refresh roughly 1,000 U.S. cafes through the end of 2026, aiming to make locations cozier, more accessible and more inviting so customers stay longer.
Key takeaways
- Starbucks plans about 1,000 store “uplifts” across the U.S. by end of 2026.
- The company expects to spend roughly $150,000 per location without closing stores during work.
- Changes emphasize more seating, softer lighting, returned outlets and accessible heights for seating and counters.
- Renovations began in New York (including Union Square East) and followed with Southern California locations.
- Union Square East’s makeover added 16 seats and introduced rugs, movable tables and reduced-glare lighting.
- Program builds on an accessible-store design first shared in early 2024, which included barista input and about two years of development.
- Under CEO Brian Niccol, Starbucks is reversing past choices—such as seat removal—and plans to restore 30,000 seats systemwide.
Verified facts
Starbucks has set a timetable to complete roughly 1,000 interior updates by the end of 2026. The company estimates spending about $150,000 on each “uplift,” and it says work will be staged so stores remain open during renovations.
At the recently renovated Union Square East location in Manhattan, Starbucks increased overall seating capacity by 16 seats, added movable tables, a wraparound leather booth, and seating at heights designed to be accessible for wheelchair users. The outlet locations that were removed in earlier layouts have been reintroduced to support laptop and phone charging.
Lighting was changed to lower-glare bulbs to reduce discomfort for customers with light sensitivity and to create a warmer atmosphere. Large area rugs and improved insulation were added to absorb ambient noise and make both customers and baristas more comfortable in busy service periods.
The redesign includes visible merchandising changes—such as a new shelving unit behind the barista counter that highlights packaged coffee and burlap coffee sacks—and local touches like color accents referencing nearby institutions (for example, purple elements near New York University).
Context & impact
The push responds to a broader effort to reestablish Starbucks as a “third place” between home and work. In recent years the chain had removed seats and outlets and tightened layouts as mobile ordering grew, moves that reduced linger time for some customers.
Restoring seats, power access and softer, more inclusive interiors is intended to encourage longer visits and repeat traffic—actions the company says can translate into meaningful business results as it seeks to arrest a sales downturn.
Operationally, keeping stores open during upgrades minimizes revenue disruption but requires careful logistics. Insulation and acoustic improvements are also meant to lower staff stress and reduce order mistakes in noisy environments.
Official statements
“We’re uplifting more than 1,000 coffeehouses over the next year, blending our global heritage with local relevance to create spaces that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply human,”
Dawn Clark, Starbucks senior vice president of coffeehouse design and concepts
Unconfirmed
- The company has not published a public list of all stores scheduled for early or late upgrades; the exact sequence of locations remains incomplete.
- Long-term effects on same-store sales and customer dwell time from these updates are not yet independently verified.
Bottom line
Starbucks’ program to update 1,000 stores combines practical accessibility improvements with design elements meant to make cafes feel more welcoming. If executed consistently, the changes could restore some customers’ perception of Starbucks as a comfortable place to work, study or socialize—and help the chain recover foot traffic.