Starbucks Unveils Cozier Coffeehouse Design in Chicago

The coffee giant is renovating 200 stores in the Chicago area with warmer colors, more lounge seating, and a focus on the in-store experience.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:03am

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A stylized, isometric 3D illustration depicting the interior of a redesigned Starbucks coffeehouse, featuring warm, cozy furnishings and decor elements that convey a sense of community and relaxation.Starbucks' redesign of its Chicago-area stores aims to create a more inviting and community-oriented in-store experience, moving away from the chain's previous minimalist aesthetic.Chicago Today

Starbucks has unveiled a redesign of one of its Chicago-area stores, featuring leather couches, cushy chairs, throw rugs, drapes, and coffee-themed art on the walls to create a cozier, more inviting atmosphere. The company plans to renovate 200 stores in the Chicago market as part of its 'Back to Starbucks' initiative to improve performance and the in-store experience across the chain.

Why it matters

Starbucks is making a concerted effort to recapture the mojo of its 55-year-old brand and draw customers back to its stores with a more comfortable, homey environment. The redesign is part of a broader restructuring plan that has also included closing underperforming locations, with Chicago losing several stores as part of the changes.

The details

The redesigned Starbucks store on Cicero Avenue in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood features leather couches, cushy chairs, throw rugs, drapes, and coffee-themed artwork on the walls. The seating is more plentiful and encourages a 'coffee klatsch' experience rather than a 'gulp-and-run.' Employees will also now bring drinks directly to seated customers as part of the chain's 'green apron service.' Starbucks has already completed 90 store renovations in the Chicago market, with plans to uplift a total of 200 locations in the city and suburbs by September.

  • Starbucks began uplifting Chicago-area locations in January 2026.
  • Work on the Cicero Avenue store was finished in February 2026.
  • Starbucks waited until April 2026 to do a ribbon-cutting ceremony and formally unveil the new designs in Chicago.

The players

Shanel Williams

Regional vice president of operations for Starbucks.

Stephenie Rychlik

Design director for Starbucks overseeing the uplift of 200 Chicago-area stores.

Brian Niccol

CEO of Starbucks who announced the 'Back to Starbucks' plan in September 2024.

Alex Klump

A 30-year-old drummer from Niles who visited the redesigned Cicero Avenue Starbucks store.

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What they’re saying

“We're redesigning our spaces in a way that is warm, it's cozier, it's more inviting. Customers want to come and stay longer.”

— Shanel Williams, Regional vice president of operations for Starbucks

“It just feels like it's a little more homey. Everything felt sleek and black before, and now there's actual couches and stuff. It feels less corporate.”

— Alex Klump

What’s next

Starbucks plans to refresh most of its stores across the U.S., following the lead in Chicago, with the goal of uplifting 200 locations in the city and suburbs by September 2026.

The takeaway

Starbucks is making a concerted effort to create a more comfortable, inviting in-store experience as part of its broader 'Back to Starbucks' initiative to recapture the brand's mojo and draw customers back to its locations. The redesign of the Cicero Avenue store in Chicago is an example of how the company is customizing the new look and feel for each market to better connect with local customers.