Forty-one years after making a modest beginning in Seattle's Pike Place Market, the Starbucks Coffee Company has finally come to India. Business Today's Rachit Goswami gives a first-hand account.
The first Starbucks outlet in India opened near the Bombay Stock Exchange, at the Horniman Circle in Mumbai, on October 19. The cafe opened for public on October 20. Eager customers were seen queuing up outside the outlet.
The wait continued inside too, even though we went visiting the Starbucks outlet a couple of days after the launch.
View of the outlet's mezzanine level.
The staff was friendly and seen interacting with customers while they waited for their turn.
Free samples of Starbucks' trademark Vanilla Frappuccino blended coffee was also served to customers waiting to place their order.
The menu has a variety of Italian coffees, tea and the usual assortment of snacks and dessert. Starbucks' staffers were kept busy by steady stream of customers coming in.
Coffee cups are handed out with the customers' name written on them.
The Mumbai outlet of the American coffee giant is huge. Foreigners visiting the outlet claimed they had never seen one as big.
The aroma of coffee was all-pervading in Starbucks' first India outlet thanks to many vessels filled with coffee beans placed inside.
A steady stream of customers kept the staff busy.
Even though Starbucks' India entry was announced way back, the Mumbai outlet still succeeded in generating curiosity.
Some of the customers were seen clicking pictures of the outlet, probably for their social media posts.
Gunny sacks, old milk cans and a hand grinder made for an interesting display on the shelves.
The decor of India's first Starbucks outlet is very Indian.
The outlet's wall-sized images are eye-catching.
Like other cafes, Starbucks has also put its cups on sale.
One can also see Starbucks' name in Marathi reflected on the logo.
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