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Starbucks just made a huge announcement about how they plan to reopen their stores. With the spread of coronavirus, Starbucks closed more than half of its United States and Canada locations–leaving only drive-thru stores open.
However, now that the United States has started to reopen businesses, Starbucks has announced their own plan for reopening.
By the end of this week, the coffee chain hopes to have reopened 85% of its stores. By June 1, Starbucks plans to have more than 90% of its stores back up and running.
Chief executive Kevin Johnson explained in a letter to Starbucks customers: "The foundation of our approach comes from what we have learned in China, where more than 98 percent of our stores are now open and operating under revised protocols. We have adapted these protocols for the US and our goal is to exceed the standards outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a safe experience, including heightened emphasis on cleaning and sanitizing protocols in our stores."
However, there will be some notable changes. According to Starbucks' statement, "We have expanded service beyond drive-thru to include mobile ordering for contactless pick-up, delivery and, in some locations, curbside pickup and grab-and-go through the café."
The letter explains that the chain is prepared for this transition: "Pre-COVID-19, more than 80 percent of customer orders in the U.S. were for "on the go" — through the drive-thru, in a café at point-of-sale or through Mobile Order for pickup or delivery. That means the majority of Starbucks customers are already familiar with the safe, convenient experiences that are now called for by physical distancing recommendations."
