Starbucks has opened its first 3D-printed store in the United States, making a splash this week in Brownsville, Texas. With over 17,000 locations nationwide, this drive-thru-only spot is quite unique for the coffee chain.
Set to open its doors on Friday, the store is one of the few major retailers experimenting with 3D printing in commercial construction. While this technology has mainly been used in home building, particularly to tackle the affordable housing crisis, Starbucks is venturing into new territory.
Starbucks hasn’t disclosed whether more such stores are planned or why they chose Brownsville, a city with around 190,000 residents and several other Starbucks locations.
The building itself is compact and rectangular, showcasing the Starbucks logo—but at a closer look, its design features walls resembling stacked tubes.
Experts in construction view this store as an intriguing example of the industry’s adaptation of new technologies. “It’s still early days,” said James Rose from the University of Tennessee’s Smart Structure Institute. “There’s a lot of experimentation happening, and that’s encouraging. Eventually, we’ll figure out the most effective applications.”
The shop is strategically located along a busy highway, and Faviola Maldonado, a former jewelry store owner nearby, commented on how the construction felt remarkably high-tech. “I didn’t expect that,” she noted, reflecting on the innovative build process.
Though Starbucks confirmed its status as the first 3D printing store in the U.S., they declined to provide any further comments.
Andrew McCoy, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Virginia Tech’s Myers Lawson School of Construction, described the store as “Leading Edge.” He pointed out that while using 3D technology can initially be more expensive than traditional wood framing, it could also help alleviate labor shortages and speed up construction. He anticipates that costs will become more competitive over time.
“We’re starting to see technology evolve—getting faster and smaller,” McCoy added. “It’s becoming easier to use.”
