Starbucks Arrives in Bucaramanga

• Three new stores will be opened in the capital of the Santander department, marking over 65 Starbucks stores in Colombia.
• Openings highlight Starbucks Colombia’s commitment to growth in the market, prioritizing job creation and supporting the community.
• Customers can enjoy 100% locally-sourced Colombian coffee in all handcrafted espresso-based beverages in the Bucaramanga stores.

Bogotá, Colombia – As part of its continued expansion plans in the market, Alsea, Starbucks operating licensee in Colombia, today announced that more customers can enjoy the Starbucks Experience in three new stores opening in Colombia’s northeastern city of Bucaramanga.

The first store will be unveiled tomorrow in La Quinta Shopping Center in Cabecera del Llano with a store in the Cacique Shopping Center opening two days later. The third store will open in Parque Caracolí in Floridablanca by the end of 2023.

Starbucks has been serving some of Colombia’s finest coffees since the company’s founding in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market in 1971. Since arriving in Colombia in 2014 with its first store in Bogotá, Starbucks remains committed to its Colombian customers, inviting them to enjoy 100% locally-sourced Colombian coffee in handcrafted espresso-based beverages as well as a wide selection of food offerings and seasonal products inspired by the market’s unique coffee heritage.

Starbucks Colombia now operates 65 stores in six cities – including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Bucaramanga – with more than 640 Starbucks Colombia partners (employees) proudly wearing the classic Starbucks green apron.

“We are tremendously excited to bring the warmth of the Starbucks Experience to customers in Bucaramanga this October with the unveiling of our new stores, all adorned with artwork created by local Colombian designers,” said Cielo Morera, director of Starbucks Colombia. “We look forward to welcoming customers to our beautiful cafes to enjoy handcrafted espresso-based beverages made by our passionate baristas as well as an assortment of whole bean coffees.”

“The arrival of the Starbucks brand in Bucaramanga not only reinforces our commitment to this dynamic market but also highlights a historic milestone for Alsea – these stores represent Alsea’s 250th store opening in Colombia and our commitment to job creation and positively impacting the communities,” added Santiago Farinati, General Director, Alsea South America. “With our new Starbucks stores, we will generate more than 40 jobs for the local community of Bucaramanga.”

Supporting Colombian Coffee Communities

In addition to employment and training opportunities for Starbucks Colombia partners, through its Together for Coffee program launched in June 2023, Starbucks Colombia and the Starbucks Farmer Support Center in Manizales will support local coffee communities by donating more than 2,000 native trees that will be delivered to coffee growers in Santander. These trees will provide the necessary shade to the coffee plants, reducing the temperature of crops and ensuring greater quality of grains and profitability for local coffee growers.

“This initiative – in which we donate a portion of proceeds from our whole bean coffee sales – was launched as a pilot program in 2022 and fills us with great pride. Last year, we delivered trees to communities in Nariño and this year we are expanding the program to benefit coffee growers from other regions in Colombia, with an emphasis on the department of Santander,” shared Cielo.

Locally-inspired Design

Starbucks designs its stores to enhance the human connection made over a cup of coffee and to reflect the communities it serves. The new store at La Quinta Shopping Center features a color palette with detailed textures to capture the vitality of Colombia’s biodiversity. The deep greens, bright blues, and reds and yellows of the flowers would create a sense of life and energy. The store offers a seating area with chairs and couches flanked by planters for added privacy

The café’s wordmark and Siren disks are strategically located and the ceiling is a canvas featuring a custom hand-painted mural titled “Living Harmony” by Las Chicas que Pintan portraying “coffee in the wild” and celebrating Colombia’s flora and fauna.  From the lush greens of the rainforest to the vibrant colors of flowers, each natural element contributes to the richness of Bucaramanga's ecosystem.

“With our Bucaramanga stores, our goal is to find creative ways to highlight the talent of Colombian muralists who inspire us with their vision and passion for Colombian coffee,” said Cielo. “For example, the colorful mural of our Starbucks La Quinta store catches the attention of customers on the upper levels of the shopping mall – it is impressive and reflects the vitality of biodiversity and vibrant colors seen across Colombia.”

Starbucks La Quinta is located at Cra. 36 #49-45, Cabecera del llano in the main square and serves customers from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.