Starbucks opens second community store in South Korea
The neighborhood surrounding the store is home to startup and social venture companies.
Starbucks opened its second Community Store in South Korea, the company said in an announcement.
Located in Seoul’s Seongsudong neighborhood, the new store is positioned as a hub for young people and prospective startups to share information about networking and starting their own businesses.
Near a major metro station, the neighborhood surrounding the community store is home to many startup and social venture companies.
Through Starbucks’ Youth Startup Entrepreneurship Program, funded by a portion of sales from the store, the coffee giant will host an ongoing series of startup workshops for young people at the Community Store and leverage other stores across the market as “satellite hubs” to offer the program to youth across the country.
The space within the store features movable walls and furniture, as well as traditional café seating.
Starbucks said the new community store highlights its “commitment to creating opportunities for young people, in partnership with South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups.”
For every item purchased at the store, KRW 300 (about $0.25) will be donated to a partnering non-profit to fund the Starbucks Youth Startup Entrepreneurship Program.
