Starbucks‘ new double-decker drive thru restaurant and cafe in Taiwan’s Hualien Bay Mall was constructed using 29 recycled shipping containers.

Starbucks may be known for spelling (and occasionally misspelling) customers’ names on its containers but that hasn’t put the coffee superpower off containers per se. Far from it, in fact: re-purposing shipping containers into sipping cafes fits hand-in-glove with the firm’s environmentally-friendly Greener Stores framework, a program that aims to design, build and operate 10,000 greener Starbucks stores globally by the year 2025.

Containerment Strategy

Our featured Starbucks store is the first retail storefront to open in the Hualien Bay Mall, located in the Taiwanese city of Hualien. This city of just over 100,000 residents is located on the Pacific Ocean seashore in northeastern Taiwan, roughly 30 minutes by air from the capital city of Taipei. The store is designed to serve customers on-the-go via an integrated drive thru, or indoors where 320 square meters (3,445 square feet) of well-lit, comfortably furnished space fosters an atmosphere of peaceful relaxation. Website YA! Travel posted the images above on September 25th of 2018.

Cargo Coffee Cult

Renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma penned the store’s exterior design, shown above under construction in early 2018. This isn’t Kuma’s first espresso-shot, either: his name is written all over (figuratively speaking) a Starbucks store in the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka and the highly anticipated Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo. Those two projects don’t involve the use of shipping containers, however, as Kuma has never worked with this “medium” in ANY of his previous projects.

Shipping Manifesto Destiny

Working with shipping containers poses certain challenges to architects, putting it mildly, but the jumbo metal boxes offer certain benefits. In the case of the Hualien Bay Mall store, stacking the shipping containers one atop the other resulted in a much taller main floor ceiling. The containers are also amenable to modifications such as skylights, which allow for the ingress of natural sunlight. Off-the-shelf shipping containers aren’t exactly known for being inwardly brilliant.

29 Containers 4 Cups

Dressing up the Starbucks store’s interior – aka, reducing the cold, harsh, shipping container vibe – took a colossal effort but the results speak for themselves. OK, we’ll speak a bit as well: the decor style was an homage to the rich cultural history of Hualien City. Colorful murals evoke the heritage of the Sakiraya Taiwanese aboriginal people who gave the town its original name of “Kiray”. Plush, comfortable customer seating areas provide scenic views of the rugged Zhongyang (“Central”) mountain range. Other graphic decor features illustrate the story of coffee, one of humanity’s most cherished beverages. Those coffee cups are cool, too.

‘Bucking Trends

The Starbucks “Greener Stores” initiative, announced on-stage at The Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, aims to save the company roughly $50 million in utilities costs over the coming decade. The framework is to be co-developed with leading environmental experts including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), while its ongoing effectiveness will be audited and verified by Scientific Certification Systems Global Services. “This framework represents the next step in how Starbucks is approaching environmental stewardship,” stated Erin Simon, Director of R&D at WWF US, “looking holistically at stores and their role in helping to ensure the future health of our natural resources.”

Containers, Caffeine, Contentment

The new Starbucks store at the Hualien Bay Mall in Taiwan is the latest cafe to be constructed from recycled shipping containers. In the United States alone, Starbucks has opened 45 modular cafes, pre-fabricated and built off-site. This construction method allows Starbucks to open stores in areas and regions that are not easily amenable to traditional store construction. At the same time, the company can minimize the environmental impact of construction while integrating reused, recycled and reclaimed materials in their designs.

Taiwan, West of Java

After a slow start, Starbucks seems to have embraced the concept of green business as appealing to its target demographic without abandoning the pursuit of profits. The push is coming from the executive suite. “Simply put, sustainable coffee, served sustainably is our aspiration,” states Kevin Johnson, President and CEO of Starbucks. “We know that designing and building green stores is not only responsible, it is cost effective as well.” Mull on that a while – while you sip a frappuccino, of course.

These 15 drained, disused & abandoned coffee shops recall a kinder, gentler, perkier time before Starbucks rebrewed the latte lover’s landscape.

Black gold, Texas tea… not the rich dark liquid you were looking for? Well you’re lookin’ in the wrong place, pardner. Said to be “a far West Texas oil town eatery” that last flourished along with the rest of Penwell, Texas back in the Roaring Twenties, the Joker Coffee Shop looks to have last provided service (with a smile) long, long ago.

Regarding the stuffed leopard in the former cafe’s restroom, let’s just say they didn’t call it The Joker for nothing. Hey kitty, why so serious?

Beaver Tales

Here’s a late and no doubt lamented “abandoned coffee shop/adult entertainment facility” in Okayama, Japan. The place’s name is “Beaver” (of course); Flickr user Trevor Williams visited the site in June of 2009 for some, shall we say, “creative photography” and we are SO glad he did!

3 Stars, Yer Out!

Central Perk it ain’t… The cozy 3 Star Coffee Shop on Columbus Avenue at 86th Street in Manhattan’s West Side has seen better days, as have almost every other store on the block.

West Side Rag‘s “intrepid tipster Kenneth” (hey, it’s better than being an intrepid hipster) was sent to check out the abandoned coffee shop in August of 2014 and he was, shall we say, less than impressed: “Half torn out. There must have been 1 million flies inside. Clearly, food must have been left inside.” Guess their signature Donut Burger Sandwiches didn’t exactly sell like Cronuts.

Hey Jo…

Starbucks may have dealt traditional coffee shops a wicked uppercut; then McCafe moved in to deliver the knockout punch – at least, such can be surmised about the above abandoned Jo To Go in Savannah, Georgia. “This drive-thru coffee shop was built in the parking lot of the shopping center at the corner of Waters Ave. and Eisenhower Drive, behind a McDonald’s, in the spring or summer of 2007,” according to Flickr user C-Bunny, “and had closed sometime earlier this (2010) year.”

Denny’s Destiny

When Flickr user Charles Hathaway snapped the sad state of Denny’s Coffee Shop (and adjoining motel) in Palm Springs, California, he hedged his commentary by stating “It seems like someone has bought the land with the intention of re-opening the motel.” Hope someone’s watering the palms in the meantime.

“A restaurant will likely open in this former Denny’s once the motel opens.” That was in January of 2008… what was the ultimate fate of this palm-treed oasis and its Space Age architecture and awesome flying saucer chandelier?

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No Perking 15 Drained Dry Abandoned Coffee Shops

As global gourmet coffee giant Starbucks prepares to open its 20,000th store, the world’s largest coffeehouse corporation finds itself torn between the need to support its hard-earned brand identity and the desire to appeal to local cultures, customs and customers. These 10 international Starbucks outlets manage to satisfy both imperatives while jolting the senses like a triple-shot Venti espresso.

Fuzhou Bistro

(images via: Maison)

One must tread carefully in Fuzhou, at least when it comes to cultural concerns. This ancient southern Chinese city takes pride in its distinct dialect and unique cuisine while taking umbrage at those who ignore history and heritage. Starbucks hears the message, their exquisite new Fuzhou store reflects what they’ve learned.

(images via: Maison)

Designed to echo the classic ambiance of the thousand-year-old Master of the Nets Garden in Suzhou, just up the coast, this air conditioned and luxuriously furnished Starbucks respects regional art forms while giving today’s Chinese consumers what they want: an “aspirational” bistro serving up locally-influenced products in upscale surroundings.

Sipping Container

(images via: Trendhunter)

The so-called “Reclamation Drive-Thru” in Tukwila, Washington, takes environmental awareness to the next level. Constructed of four rescued and upcycled steel shipping containers, the outlet only offers drive-thru and walk-up service as there’s only enough space inside to accommodate a trio of baristas, their supplies and equipment.

(image via: Business Insider)

Green is more than just a paint job at the Reclamation Drive-Thru. Intended to be a showcase of Starbucks’ eco-friendly side, the store was designed along LEED green building standards and boasts integrated rainwater harvesting though we’re not sure the harvested water is used to brew the stores’ coffee.

Branch Office

(images via: Australian Design Review and Slamxhype)

Kenny Rogers once said “it’s the wood that makes it good,” Kengo Kuma put that philosophy into effect beautifully at a one-of-a-kind Starbucks store in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Cognizant of the store’s proximity to the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine (established in 919 A.D.), Kuma was determined to put harmony above hucksterism while respecting the varying needs of thirsty shrine visitors.

(image via: Full Insight)

Completed in 2008, the Dazaifu Starbucks offers customers a “fluid, cave-like space” warmed by the presence of some 2,000 wooden sticks woven intricately along the structure’s walls. Lined up end to end, the sticks would stretch 4.4km or 2.735 miles. Subtle lighting and restrained decoration heightens the minimalist feel of the store while reinforcing the Starbucks brand identity through strategically placed signage.

Shanghai Surprise

(images via: Gavinbloys)

The plaza near the 400-year-old Yu Yuan Garden and Shanghai Bazaar offers access to Shanghai’s most popular tourist hotspots and as such, makes an excellent location for a high-volume Starbucks store. Trouble is, the area’s historic architecture would clash unfavorably with that of a standard Starbucks store… or actually, vice-versa. Starbucks’ solution was to camouflage the store as much as possible by incorporating the look of the area’s buildings.

(image via: Explore Beautiful Digital Art/Graphics)

Traveler and photographer Jean-pierre Prieur cleverly captured the understated beauty of this Shanghai Starbucks location, one of almost 700 in China with many more planned. Will it blend? Yes indeed, both when it comes to mixing up a frosty frappuccino or respecting classic Chinese architectural styling.

Turkish Delight

(images via: Starbucks Melody)

The Starbucks store in Ye?ilköy (about 11 miles west of downtown Istanbul) is one of approximately 150 locations in Turkey, all of which both serve and embody a distinct Turkish flavor. On the inside, the stores serve up enticing national specialties such as orange juice fresh squeezed right in the store and “kahve”, a delicious Turkish coffee with rich, chocolaty overtones.

(image via: Starbucks Melody)

The Starbucks in Ye?ilköy looks a lot like the neighboring buildings in this affluent area of Istanbul, which is no accident. Tall picture windows and an intimate balcony overlooking the Sea of Marmara offer a warm, friendly atmosphere conducive to both coffee and conversation. Should you order a Grande Kahve with the works? That’s nobody’s business but the Turks’.

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Cool Beans The Worlds Most Startling Starbucks Stores