Starbucks pickup-only stores (2019–2021)
Starbucks opened seating-less stores in dense cities like New York, relying entirely on mobile orders and pickup. The company bet that convenience would outweigh the loss of the café experience.
Pickup-only stores found a niche in commuter-heavy areas but never replaced traditional cafés.
The format became one option in Starbucks' store mix, not the default.
A major chain testing whether customers will trade sit-down comfort for speed — the same bet Buffalo Wild Wings is making with GO.
