The Nation's First Starbucks Store Using 'Nicknames'
22 Years of Memories, Innovation, and Expertise Combined
Established as a Cornerstone for Sustainable Management Store
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Starbucks Coffee Korea will open the Starbucks ‘Byuldabang’ on the first floor of the State Tower Namsan Building on the 26th.
The store name is Byuldabang. Byuldabang has been a popular nickname used by domestic customers to refer to Starbucks. It is unusual to adopt a nickname that does not use a place name or building name as the store name.
Starbucks explained, "The place-name-based Starbucks store names that have continued worldwide for 50 years were specially named Byuldabang this year to mark the 22nd anniversary of Korean customers, as a sign of respect and gratitude."
Byuldabang is a store that encompasses all the memories Starbucks has introduced in Korea so far, while also embracing the meaning of sustainability to move forward, such as eco-friendliness and equal employment.
Byuldabang, with an area of 413.5㎡ (124 pyeong) and 85 seats, sells not only products available at regular Starbucks stores but also beverages and foods that could only be experienced at concept stores such as Reserve and Teavana.
Reflecting local characteristics, the interior design features a home cafe concept inspired by traditional Korean patterned roof tiles, creating a cozy atmosphere as if enjoying a campfire at home.
For the first time worldwide, a digital art wall was installed inside the store. An 8m wide and 4m high LED wall is installed in the center of the store, and various videos related to the Starbucks coffee story will be released in the future. The first art wall is a collaboration with illustrator Lee Gyu-tae, featuring a video depicting ‘A Day at Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia Coffee Farm.’
Byuldabang will also showcase spaces that have been available only in some stores or pilot stores, such as a dedicated pickup area for Siren Order and a separate space for coffee seminars, introduced for the first time in Korea.
Byuldabang is also a cornerstone store for ‘eco-friendliness,’ a key concept in future sustainable management. The store uses sensors to automatically turn off lights when no customers are present and adjusts indoor brightness according to natural light, reducing electricity costs. Various eco-friendly interior materials and equipment were used. (Leadership in Energy Through this, the store aims to obtain the globally recognized eco-friendly certification LEED ‘Silver’ certification within this year.
It also takes a symbolic step in equal employment. The ‘Byuldabang’ partners are diversely composed of disabled baristas and middle-aged baristas hired through Starbucks’ vulnerable group employment support programs. It plans to expand hiring to include return-mom baristas who rejoined after career breaks and youth baristas supported from vulnerable groups.
CEO Song Ho-seop said, "Byuldabang is not just a store with a special name, but a special store that embodies respect for the local community and customers," adding, "Starting with the opening of Byuldabang, we will strive for sustainable management that benefits the environment and local communities."
Meanwhile, to commemorate the opening of Starbucks Byuldabang, seven new Reserve and Teavana specialty drinks, including ‘Sakeratto Affogato,’ ‘Konggomul Black Milk Tea,’ and ‘Byeolgung Omija Youthberry Tea,’ will be newly launched at Starbucks Reserve stores nationwide, including Byuldabang.
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