WASHINGTON — Starbucks rolled out its first-ever accessible store in D.C.’s Union Market neighborhood on Friday.
The store, located at 331 N Street NE, was built using the company’s Inclusive Spaces Framework, which according to an announcement made by Starbucks, will guide new store construction and renovations going forward, making the coffee shop experience inclusive for all customers, regardless of their abilities.
“So many people with disabilities don’t even access retailers because they can’t get in the door,” said Kim Knackstedt with Unlock Access, an accessibility and disability policy firm in Washington, D.C. “So having somewhere that is very easy to know that it’s a place that welcomes you, and you know this is a space where you belong, it’s a really big deal. You know it or you don’t, literally from the moment you enter.”
Some of the store’s inclusive features include a next-generation point-of-sale (POS) to aid staff and customer interactions, power-operated doors for easy and independent entry, and a more accessible handoff counter with extra room for customers with wheelchairs, strollers, and service dogs.
The store also features optimized acoustics and lighting to reduce glare and noise, inclusive equipment that notifies staff when brewing is complete, customer order status boards for clear communication, and a mural designed by deaf artist and college professor Ryan Seslow. Visually impaired customers may also access the Aira App to navigate the store with on-demand visual interpreters.
“We don't have all the answers, we're not going to solve all of the problems that we have around inclusion, accessibility, disabilities, all in one mural, obviously. But it will create conversations and it will create a space and it can create a dialogue. And that in and of itself is really important. And that's a great starting point,” Seslow told Starbucks, according to the press release.
The company said half the store’s staff knows American Sign Language, creating a community committed to inclusion aligned with the neighborhood near Gallaudet University, renowned for its support of the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Starbucks added that Matthew, the store’s manager, is among several deaf leaders in the company, and proudly holds a degree from Gallaudet.
“Being thoughtful of others is important,” says Posa, a deaf barista and one of eight Starbucks partners (employees) at the new store who know and use sign language. “This store is a good opportunity for everyone to feel like they can have access, regardless of where they come from. We’re going to get more diverse customers coming in, because it is accessible, and they’re going to have their needs met.”
Although this store features new accessible features, it isn't Starbucks first store that prioritizes accessibility. In 2018, the company inaugurated its first signing store, located close to Gallaudet University.
To learn more about this initiative visit Starbucks.