Latest news with #Bridgehampton
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Starbucks unveils its latest plans to lure back customers – a more comfy return to form
Starbucks has unveiled its latest plans to lure customers back inside its stores, choosing to lean into comfort after focusing on convenience. In recent years, the coffee chain has geared its stores toward the type of customer who wants to grab a drink and be on their way quickly. They've built more drive-thrus and introduced mobile ordering. But as more people seek to get back to their pre-pandemic modes of work and leisure — a space that's neither work nor home, where they can also socialize — Starbucks is focusing on making its stores warm and inviting again. In the next year, Starbucks will renovate 1,000 stores with comfy chairs, couches and power outlets, CNN reported, in an attempt to get back to its roots. Some might recall in the early 2000s when Starbucks had stuffed purple armchairs. They were taken out of stores in 2008. 'You will see something similar to it returning to our stores,' Meredith Sandland, Starbucks' chief store development officer, told CNN. 'Will it be purple? I don't know. I'll tease that one out.' CNN got a sneak peek of the first store to be remodeled. It's located in Bridgehampton, New York. The store features tables with long couches on one side and chairs on the other. There are also low, cushioned chairs off to the side, perfect for a coffee date. 'It's creating comfortable seating where people want to come in. It's not just the quick grab and go concept,' Mike Grams, Starbucks' chief operating officer, told CNN. Grams admitted: 'Maybe over past years, we lost our way a little bit on that.' Starbucks has already renovated four stores in the Hamptons, with plans to renovate more stores in New York City in the next few months, CNN reported. If you've been paying close attention, you might have noticed other changes around your local Starbucks, like baristas writing on your coffee cup with Sharpie markers. Starbucks has also brought back self-serve milk and sugar stations and is offering free refills for customers who take their coffee to stay rather than to go.
Wall Street Journal
10 hours ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Women Are Saving Thousands of Dollars With DIY Beauty Procedures. It's Not Always Pretty.
To conserve cash on her beauty regime, Brooke Burnside dermaplanes her face and tints her own brows with henna at home. 'Doing these services myself has saved me thousands,' said Burnside, 32, the owner of a fitness studio in Bridgehampton, N.Y. Sue Phillips, 65, recently started mixing her own body cream. 'I have become a lot more conscious of how much I'm spending,' said Phillips, who works in the fragrance industry in New York. With rising prices, recession fears and tariffs top of mind, women like Phillips and Burnside are skipping the beauty parlor, and taking treatments into their own hands.
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
Soul Cycle's The Barn: Where Design Creates Community
Soul Cycle's The Barn in Bridgehampton SoulCycle While New York City is one of the busiest places in the world, the Hamptons offer a completely different vibe, especially at SoulCycle's most stylish outpost, The Barn in Bridgehampton. This beautifully designed studio features both indoor and outdoor spaces, making it more than just a place to sweat. The outdoor gathering area SoulCycle Whether it's attending a community event, relaxing outside after class, or simply soaking in the serene scenery (and the scene), The Barn offers an experience unlike anything else. The studio SoulCycle At 6300 square feet, The Barn is much larger than the average SoulCycle studio, which is 3000 square feet. With a generous 78 bikes, it holds more than 20 more bikes than a typical location. With a cycling meets Nancy Meyers aesthetic, this studio feels fresh and new, yet it opened nearly two decades ago. 'This was the second studio that SoulCycle opened in New York, and at the time, we were looking for a space that allowed us to create something that felt like a retreat rather than a typical studio. We also wanted to be where our community is, and this felt like the perfect next spot for us,' Keri Saggio, VP, Field Operations at SoulCycle tells me. A weathered wood desk SoulCycle The airy indoor-outdoor space is anchored by a perfectly weathered wood barn. The chic Hamptons aesthetic and lush landscaping give it a vibe that's worlds away from a typical New York spin studio, even with riders coming and going throughout the day. With two sitting areas, minimalist contemporary furniture outside, and playful rattan swings, the experience is more like a retreat than simply going to a class. Spin and swing SoulCycle 'The design invites riders to pause, slow down, breathe, and take a moment for themselves. We wanted people to experience SoulCycle in a way that reflects the energy of the area, compared to the fast pace of the city,' says Saggio. Seasonal Studios Perfectly accessorized with pillows SoulCycle Still, while this location is truly special—design and atmosphere have played a crucial role in SoulCycle's overall success as a brand. 'It is incredibly important that we fit seamlessly into our riders' routines, whether they live in the community year-round or spend time there seasonally, and the studio design plays a key role in that,' explains the executive. 'At all SoulCycle locations, our goal is to create an experience where riders can walk in, unplug in our candlelit rooms, and give in to the rhythm and the energy of the room that's driven by our inspirational instructors. No matter where a studio is located, together, these elements create a sense of magic that keeps riders coming back, time and time again, and The Barn is no different.' A chic spot to sit after an intense sweat session. SoulCycle In addition to The Barn, SoulCycle also operates seasonal studios in Aspen, Palm Beach, and Martha's Vineyard. Wellness Weekend And Other Events But perhaps the biggest feature of the space is that it allows for events, such as brand partnerships and pop-ups, including Wellness Weekend . After its debut in 2024, it's happening again from June 27 to 29, 2025. This event will include facials, lymphatic massages, hair styling, snacks, and even functional mocktails for a post-class treat, all weekend long. Participating brands include MTE mocktails, medical aesthetic brand JECT , Uni body care, a bun bar by Allyoos clean hair care, Sourmilk yogurt and a recovery station by Hyperice . But the most important thing about Wellness Weekend is the opportunity to connect in the highly coveted eastern enclave of Long Island, says Saggio. 'Our community is incredibly important to us, so we've intentionally created a space that reflects and responds to their needs. Whether it's hosting early classes to fit into their routines, offering cozy areas to unwind and connect, or curating events and experiences that bring people together, everything about The Barn is designed to make our community feel at home.'
CNN
17 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Inside Starbucks' ‘coffeehouse of the future': Its redesign to save the company
Over the last few years, Starbucks pulled out 30,000 comfortable seats, installed hard wooden stools, blocked electrical outlets and turned stores into takeout counters for customers picking up orders off its mobile app. The changes backfired and customers left for local coffee shops and other chains and brewed more coffee at home. Now Starbucks is trying to win back customers looking to sit down for a cup of coffee by renovating 1,000 stores — 10% of its company-owned US locations—with comfy chairs, couches, tables and power outlets in the next year. The company aims to make changes to all of its US stores within the next three years for an undisclosed price tag. 'It's creating comfortable seating where people want to come in. It's not just the quick grab and go concept,' Mike Grams, Starbucks' chief operating officer, said in an interview with CNN last week at one of the first remodeled stores in Bridgehampton, New York. 'Maybe over past years, we lost our way a little bit on that.' The company is beginning its remodel push in the Hamptons, the posh vacation retreat where Bon Jovi, Jennifer Lopez, Alec Baldwin and other celebrities own homes. Starbucks redesigned four stores in the Hamptons and plans to remodel New York City locations next quarter. Starbucks' 'coffeehouse of the future' is not revolutionary, but the Bridgehampton renovation made the store feel modern. The design was minimalist, with a mix of light and dark-brown wood tones, dark-green walls and soft lighting. Plants and bowls of coffee beans were placed around the store. The espresso bar was opened up, and the menu board went digital. At the Bridgehampton store, people were having conversations in low, cushioned armchairs, orange booth seats and high-top tables for two. Other customers were sitting in wood chairs on their laptops at small tables. The big question is whether these changes go far enough to reverse Starbucks' slide. Sales at stores open at least a year have declined for five consecutive quarters. The company is getting squeezed by independent coffee shops, growing chains like Blank Street Coffee and Blue Bottle Coffee and drive-thru companies such as Dutch Bros. Customers have also balked at Starbucks' prices. 'Is it an overwhelming change? No. But I think it makes a psychological difference,' said Joseph Pine, the co-founder of consultancy Strategic Horizons, who criticized Starbucks for 'commoditizing itself' through mobile orders in a Harvard Business Review article last year. 'It sends a signal to sit down and spend some time here,' he said. But the redesigned store still didn't solve the balance between mobile and in-person customers. Despite a riser and a dedicated pickup shelf for mobile orders, customers piled up near the counter, waiting for their pickups and hovering near customers sitting down with their coffee. Starbucks said it's soon implementing technology that more efficiently sequences orders and a new staffing model that will help alleviate congestion at the counters. The appeal to customers to sit down in stores again is part of CEO Brian Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' strategy. Since arriving from Chipotle last year, Niccol, the Mr. Fix-It of the fast food industry known for leading turnarounds at Taco Bell and Chipotle, has brought back a Starbucks tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the menu; and ended its open-bathroom policy. Starbucks is also offering free refills for customers who sit down in stores, served in ceramic mugs. ''Back to Starbucks' is bringing Starbucks back to the brand that we all grew up with,' said Grams, who was the president of Taco Bell and took over as Starbucks' COO in February. 'It's just making sure that you keep everything balanced and you create that sense of real comfort in our cafes.' The new leadership team is trying to position Starbucks' coffee shops as a 'third place' again. Starbucks' longtime leader Howard Schultz envisioned the company's stores as a location where people could relax that wasn't their workplace or their home, designing stores for people to spend hours in plush purple armchairs, socializing and connecting. The third place idea became part of Starbucks' corporate mythology. But Starbucks struggled to maintain this identity as it built drive-thru stores and catered to the rise of mobile orders, which now make up more than a third of Starbucks' sales. Starbucks tried to serve customers looking for both a local coffee shop vibe and those who prioritized speed at the same time. The company ended up alienating both, said RJ Hottovy, an analyst who covers the restaurant industry at data analytics firm 'People want more third place options out there,' Hottovy said. 'To go after that and bring that feeling back for Starbucks is important.' Starbucks is trying to return to its past, but stores won't look like they did 20 years ago. For example, Starbucks is not bringing back the iconic stuffed purple armchairs from the 1990s and 2000s. Starbucks said the fabric was easily worn and hard to keep clean. It retired the purple armchairs in 2008. 'You will see something similar to it returning to our stores,' said Meredith Sandland, a former Taco Bell executive who became Starbucks' chief coffeehouse development officer in February. 'Will it be purple? I don't know. I'll tease that one out.' Each redesign will look slightly different, she said, but they will all include new lighting, colors, better acoustics and other improvements across more than 10,000 company-owned US locations. Starbucks also has around 7,000 licensed stores in the United States. Starbucks also plans a variety of different seats in stores to encourage people to come in for different purposes – working solo on a laptop, having a meeting or reading a book, she said. The goal is to make Starbucks feel more like a boutique setting, not a McDonald's. 'I think of a 'third place' as a place that should be warm and welcoming (and) feel a little bit more like a hotel lobby than maybe a fast food restaurant,' she said.
CNN
18 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Inside Starbucks' ‘coffeehouse of the future': Its redesign to save the company
Over the last few years, Starbucks pulled out 30,000 comfortable seats, installed hard wooden stools, blocked electrical outlets and turned stores into takeout counters for customers picking up orders off its mobile app. The changes backfired and customers left for local coffee shops and other chains and brewed more coffee at home. Now Starbucks is trying to win back customers looking to sit down for a cup of coffee by renovating 1,000 stores — 10% of its company-owned US locations—with comfy chairs, couches, tables and power outlets in the next year. The company aims to make changes to all of its US stores within the next three years for an undisclosed price tag. 'It's creating comfortable seating where people want to come in. It's not just the quick grab and go concept,' Mike Grams, Starbucks' chief operating officer, said in an interview with CNN last week at one of the first remodeled stores in Bridgehampton, New York. 'Maybe over past years, we lost our way a little bit on that.' The company is beginning its remodel push in the Hamptons, the posh vacation retreat where Bon Jovi, Jennifer Lopez, Alec Baldwin and other celebrities own homes. Starbucks redesigned four stores in the Hamptons and plans to remodel New York City locations next quarter. Starbucks' 'coffeehouse of the future' is not revolutionary, but the Bridgehampton renovation made the store feel modern. The design was minimalist, with a mix of light and dark-brown wood tones, dark-green walls and soft lighting. Plants and bowls of coffee beans were placed around the store. The espresso bar was opened up, and the menu board went digital. At the Bridgehampton store, people were having conversations in low, cushioned armchairs, orange booth seats and high-top tables for two. Other customers were sitting in wood chairs on their laptops at small tables. The big question is whether these changes go far enough to reverse Starbucks' slide. Sales at stores open at least a year have declined for five consecutive quarters. The company is getting squeezed by independent coffee shops, growing chains like Blank Street Coffee and Blue Bottle Coffee and drive-thru companies such as Dutch Bros. Customers have also balked at Starbucks' prices. 'Is it an overwhelming change? No. But I think it makes a psychological difference,' said Joseph Pine, the co-founder of consultancy Strategic Horizons, who criticized Starbucks for 'commoditizing itself' through mobile orders in a Harvard Business Review article last year. 'It sends a signal to sit down and spend some time here,' he said. But the redesigned store still didn't solve the balance between mobile and in-person customers. Despite a riser and a dedicated pickup shelf for mobile orders, customers piled up near the counter, waiting for their pickups and hovering near customers sitting down with their coffee. Starbucks said it's soon implementing technology that more efficiently sequences orders and a new staffing model that will help alleviate congestion at the counters. The appeal to customers to sit down in stores again is part of CEO Brian Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' strategy. Since arriving from Chipotle last year, Niccol, the Mr. Fix-It of the fast food industry known for leading turnarounds at Taco Bell and Chipotle, has brought back a Starbucks tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the menu; and ended its open-bathroom policy. Starbucks is also offering free refills for customers who sit down in stores, served in ceramic mugs. ''Back to Starbucks' is bringing Starbucks back to the brand that we all grew up with,' said Grams, who was the president of Taco Bell and took over as Starbucks' COO in February. 'It's just making sure that you keep everything balanced and you create that sense of real comfort in our cafes.' The new leadership team is trying to position Starbucks' coffee shops as a 'third place' again. Starbucks' longtime leader Howard Schultz envisioned the company's stores as a location where people could relax that wasn't their workplace or their home, designing stores for people to spend hours in plush purple armchairs, socializing and connecting. The third place idea became part of Starbucks' corporate mythology. But Starbucks struggled to maintain this identity as it built drive-thru stores and catered to the rise of mobile orders, which now make up more than a third of Starbucks' sales. Starbucks tried to serve customers looking for both a local coffee shop vibe and those who prioritized speed at the same time. The company ended up alienating both, said RJ Hottovy, an analyst who covers the restaurant industry at data analytics firm 'People want more third place options out there,' Hottovy said. 'To go after that and bring that feeling back for Starbucks is important.' Starbucks is trying to return to its past, but stores won't look like they did 20 years ago. For example, Starbucks is not bringing back the iconic stuffed purple armchairs from the 1990s and 2000s. Starbucks said the fabric was easily worn and hard to keep clean. It retired the purple armchairs in 2008. 'You will see something similar to it returning to our stores,' said Meredith Sandland, a former Taco Bell executive who became Starbucks' chief coffeehouse development officer in February. 'Will it be purple? I don't know. I'll tease that one out.' Each redesign will look slightly different, she said, but they will all include new lighting, colors, better acoustics and other improvements across more than 10,000 company-owned US locations. Starbucks also has around 7,000 licensed stores in the United States. Starbucks also plans a variety of different seats in stores to encourage people to come in for different purposes – working solo on a laptop, having a meeting or reading a book, she said. The goal is to make Starbucks feel more like a boutique setting, not a McDonald's. 'I think of a 'third place' as a place that should be warm and welcoming (and) feel a little bit more like a hotel lobby than maybe a fast food restaurant,' she said.
