Starbucks will open its first store in Trenton by the end of the year and it will serve the community as well as coffee. Located at the corner of South Warren and Front Streets, it will be the seventh store in the U.S. operating on a more local level by committing to hire locally, source locally, and operate an in-store job training program.
Camille Hymes, Regional Vice President for Mid-Atlantic operations said in a statement, “We considered the impact Starbucks could have in this part of Trenton, and whether it would be a viable site in terms of driving our business and being profitable, while also serving the needs of the community with new jobs and economic investment. Both of those considerations–community impact and impact on business–led to this site being right for us.”
Six Starbucks stores are already operating under this model in Ferguson, MO, Chicago, Phoenix, Queens, East Baltimore, and Long Beach, CA, and plans for a similar store in Dallas were just announced. A total of 15 stores in underserved communities across the U.S. are promised by 2018.
In Trenton, the new store will be a catalyst for the local economy, employing local contractors, partnering with local suppliers, and working with local youth and a part of ongoing efforts to jumpstart the downtown business district. The store will even have a classroom space to “not only support job training programs with a local nonprofit, but serve as a hub for conversation and community dialog,” Starbucks said.
“Starbucks will be a welcome addition,” said Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson. “Starbucks is stepping up and investing in our community in a way that will open up exciting opportunities for all.”
