Starbucks Opens First New Store in Puerto Rico Since Hurricane Maria
December 18 2017 - 2:36PM
Business Wire
Starbucks has opened its 25th store on the
Island at the Metropolitan University campus of the Ana G. Méndez
University System in San Juan – its first new location since
Hurricane Maria forced widespread store closures in September
Company reaffirms its long-term commitment to
Puerto Rico’s economic recovery and community rebuilding
efforts
Starbucks Puerto Rico is celebrating the opening of its 25th
location on the Island, a new café on the Metropolitan University
(UMET) campus in Cupey, which is part of the Ana G. Méndez
University System (SUAGM). It is the first Starbucks® store to open
since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September, destroying
homes, damaging the Island’s critical infrastructure, and taking
innocent lives.
As the long road to rebuilding continues, leaders from both
Starbucks and the company’s local business partner, Baristas del
Caribe, reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to
support the Island’s economic recovery. The two companies and their
foundations have also collectively contributed more than $1.3
million toward emergency relief and long-term rebuilding efforts
across the region. That includes the creation of the Tacita Verde
Fund to provide emergency financial grants to local Starbucks
partners (employees) and their families in need, as well as a
Starbucks Foundation grant to match U.S. customer donations via the
Starbucks mobile app and funding to World Coffee Research to begin
the long-term work of supporting coffee farmers impacted by the
hurricane.
“Our new store in San Juan, our 25th on the Island, is in honor
of our Puerto Rican partners and customers, who continue to
demonstrate incredible strength and resilience day after day since
Hurricane Maria,” said Michael Conway, executive vice president
for Starbucks Licensed Stores business across the Americas. “As
we open our doors at UMET, and slowly begin to reopen all other
stores across the Island, we remain fully committed to our growth
plans in the market as we work to create local jobs, serve our
customers, and support the region’s coffee producers. I am very
proud of the heroic ways in which our partners came together to
support one another and their community, as well as the leadership,
vision and compassion of our trusted business partner, Baristas del
Caribe, led by the Fonalledas family in Puerto Rico. This will
undoubtedly be a long road to recovery, and Starbucks is here for
the long haul.”
“With this new opening we reaffirm that the Island is firmly on
its way to recovery,” said Governor Ricardo Rosselló. “We
thank Starbucks Puerto Rico for its commitment to create jobs and
contribute to our economy at a time when the Island needs it most.
Likewise, we urge you to continue supporting your employees, as you
are doing with the newly created Tacita Verde Fund.”
“Starbucks opening at the university is an example of our
commitment to Puerto Rico,” said Jaime L. Fonalledas, president
of Baristas del Caribe. “We remain focused on growing the
brand, despite the setbacks caused by the hurricane. Our new store
opening was made possible thanks to the strategic alliance
established with the SUAGM system, a stable and progressive
corporation, equally committed with the economic recovery of the
Island.”
Starbucks intends for the new location at UMET, which is now
open to the public, to become a meeting place on campus, while
providing job opportunities to local students and contributing to
the local economy. Another Starbucks® store will open in Santa
Isabel in early 2018.
“Today we make history by opening the first Starbucks in a
higher education institution in Puerto Rico,” said José F.
Méndez Méndez, president of SUAGM. “The economic development of
the country is everyone’s responsibility and SUAGM will be present
in any initiative that improves the quality of life of our
people.”
Supporting Long-Term Relief and Recovery Efforts
In the wake of the devastating impacts of Hurricane Maria in
September, Starbucks Puerto Rican partners, like the rest of the
citizens on the Island, faced a long and difficult road to
recovery. Many are still assessing damages to their homes and their
communities, a task made much tougher due to the lack of power,
limited connectivity, and long lines for necessities like water,
ice, gas and food.
In response, Baristas del Caribe created the Tacita Verde
Fund – its first-ever employee assistance fund
dedicated to help Starbucks Puerto Rican partners and their
families in need. Through an initial contribution of $50,000 from
Starbucks Coffee Company, the Tacita Verde Fund is helping provide
financial grants to partners with critical needs ranging from
urgent home repairs to food or medical needs. The Fonalledas
Foundation is also supporting the partners with donations.
In addition to the Starbucks Puerto Rico Tacita Verde Fund,
Starbucks Coffee Company, Baristas Del Caribe, and its parent
company Empressas Fonalledas Inc., have made the following
contributions to support urgent and long-term rebuilding efforts in
communities across Puerto Rico:
- $125,000 from Starbucks Coffee Company
to Unidos por Puerto Rico
- $75,000 from The Starbucks Foundation
to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy
- $20,000 from The Starbucks Foundation
to match donations by customers across the U.S. through the
Starbucks mobile app. These funds will also support the Center for
Disaster Philanthropy.
- $27,000 from The Starbucks Foundation
to World Coffee Research to support rebuilding of the Island’s
coffee industry
- Product/in-kind donations from the
business, including bottled water and emergency supplies
- $1 million from Empresas Fonalledas
Inc. to various nonprofit organizations working on relief and
recovery efforts across the Island, as well as assistance to
employees. Among the nonprofit organizations are Red Cross,
Para la Naturaleza, Habitat for Humanity, World Central Kitchen,
Ricky Martin Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, Centros Sor Isolina
Ferré, Centro para Puerto Rico and Unidos por Puerto Rico.
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) has been
committed to ethically sourcing and roasting
high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around
the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of
specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to
excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the
unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer
through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in
our stores or online
at news.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
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