SEATTLE, Wash. — Starbucks has announced the company is expanding what it calls Starbucks evenings -a late afternoon menu featuring beer, wine and small plates - to thousands of stores nationwide.
"I think it works well for the people who want to drink coffee, and their friends want to drink beer and wine," customer Whitney Hall said.
The Capitol Hill cafe on East Olive Way in Seattle was the first store to launch the menu in October 2010. There are a little more than 30 stores that currently offer the menu, which features items like bacon-wrapped dates and parmesan-crusted chicken skewers.
The expansion move is already facing some skepticism from coffee drinkers.
"Would you go to Starbucks for wine or beer?" KIRO 7 asked customer Hande Ormen.
"I honestly wouldn't," Ormen said. "I just don't see it because people don't think of Starbucks as a happy hour place."
"Maybe have different music," Hall suggested. "Starbucks has that coffee concept [right now]."
Customers will have to show their IDs if they want to buy alcohol.
Bryan Steadman, who's had a beer at the East Olive Way location, said it might not hurt the company to go a step further and offer liquor, too.
"Yeah, spiked coffee," Steadman said. "Real Irish coffee!"
Starbucks told KIRO 7 that right now, it has no plans to serve any other kinds of alcohol.
The coffee giant expects the rollout will occur over several years.
KIRO
