The grand opening on Thursday marked the coffee chain’s third store in The Bahamas in less than one year.
J.R. Boisclair, Managing Director of Coffee Cay Ltd, said the opening of several stores in Nassau is indication that Starbucks is popular with its patrons, but especially Bahamians. Mr Boisclair also disclosed that two more branches are slated to open this year, with the next grand opening as soon as June for a store that would be located in the Palmdale area.
“Things are going very well. Sales have been strong and we’ve had a wonderful reception from Bahamian public and that’s what I really care about,” said Mr Boisclair. “We pretty much knew the tourists, knowing the brand, would visit us, but it’s the Bahamian public that is dear to my heart,” he added.
Starbucks has been in business for 34 years, opening its first store in Seattle in 1971. The popular coffee chain boasts of 6,000 store locations world-wide. Starbucks statistics also reveal that 22 million customers in the United States patronise its businesses weekly.
One important aspect of the Starbucks brand is the celebration of the culture in countries where its stores are located. In keeping with that commitment Mr Boisclair said his team wished to incorporate Bahamian culture and themes into its stores, but especially with the upcoming Palmdale branch. “We’re going to make great efforts to make the Palmdale store relevant to The Bahamas and Bahamians,” said Mr Boisclair. “We’re going to be incorporating an art wall in that store where we will be displaying, on a periodic rotating basis, Bahamian art.”
All of the Starbucks branches are strategically located including at the eastern (Paradise Island) and western points on the island, in the downtown area, and with the Palmdale store Starbucks would also be centrally located.
“All our current stores are doing well or even better than we hoped and I guess the real confidence booster is being able to connect with the Bahamian community,” Mr Boisclair said.
Also on hand for the grand opening was Inga Bowleg, Director of Business Development for Coffee Cay Ltd, which is also a subsidiary of the John Bull Group of Companies. Ms Bowleg said the opening of Starbucks in The Bahamas has proven the rumour that Bahamians are true coffee lovers.
“We want to say a special thank you to our Bahamian public because Starbucks is all about embracing the community, and embracing the culture wherever they are and adding to that community,” said Ms Bowleg. “As long as Starbucks is in The Bahamas we will be contributing to truly making it better,” she added.
By: BARRY WILLIAMS, The Nassau Guardian
