The first Tazo Tea store (operated by Starbucks) has its signage up! The store is located in Seattle’s University Village shopping area, and is in a location that used to be a Lululemon store. I dropped by early this morning because I had heard (via a nice anonymous email using the contact me form on this site) that the signs were up. I arrived this morning before the sun was up and started taking photos. I have to apologize because the photos taken before the sun was up are really too dark!
I like the exterior wall design. It is images of teacups laying in a bed of tea leaves (I presume!) with cute little sayings such as, ‘It’s nearly tea time‘ and ‘Something good is steeping.’ My favorite was definitely, ‘We’re rolling out carpets of chamomile.’
I took a few photos in the dark, and then dropped by the nearby University Village Starbucks for coffee and a scone. Actually, I was surprised by my exchange at the register. I handed the register barista my Evolution Fresh Starbucks Card, and she said to me, ‘Do you have another form of payment? Or would you like to pay by a Visa?‘ before even trying to swipe it. I simply said that it is a Starbucks Card. I was mildly surprised, but not in anyway upset. She swiped the card, and of course it worked. In any case, if you’re in the area, be sure to visit this Starbucks and try some freshly-baked pastries. I also want to mention that there was a ‘Now Hiring’ sign for the Tazo Tea store posted inside the University Village Starbucks – I took a photo of that in case any of my readers want to submit their resume.
I came out of the University Village and it was beginning to rain, but the sun was up. I took a few more photos in the light, which definitely turned out much better! I wish I had taken all of these photos in the daylight! I am sorry that a few are so dark.
Anyway, here you have a first look at the Tazo Tea sign at University Village! I think it’s schedule to open up late Autumn. I’m excited to explore it. Actually, I’m not much a tea drinker, but it’s new and exciting, and I will check it out once it is open. (Trust me, if there is anyway to get a sneak peak early – hopefully there will be a media event or something – I will try to get that posted here.)
Enjoy!
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I love the font of their sign and packaging. I would love to try out one of their stores as I love drinking their black tea and chai tea.
Melody I just love this store and the signs and the design. Thanks for getting up early to take the pics. Again, you are lucky to have this open in your area. When you can next, make a suggestion to the SM in the store to pass along that SB customers want this store not only in Seattle! Come by me! Can’t wait to get a followup of the inside and also to hear how the partners are. Do you know if this store will accept the SB card? And rewards?
@Purple1 – Sorry it does seem like everything starts here! I know though I’m jealous of the San Francisco Starbucks stores that have the La Boulange pastries. I wish someone would send me pics of their pastry displays!
That’s a really great question about the card. Starbucks has become very sophisticated at making seamless cards. I would imagine that you’ll be able to pay with a Starbucks card & reload at the Tazo store, and that there will be some special Tazo card. Of course, I really do not know, and that’s a wild guess based upon what Starbucks did with Evolution Fresh.
It will be very interesting to see how coffee-centric Seattle customers accept the tea and merchandise dominated Tazo store with no cafe seating (think Teavana) and if people even associate Tazo Tea with Starbucks. In any case, it is sure to be a nice looking, well designed store and very appealing to people who like to blend their own mix of specialty teas.
@Rachel – I had wondered about the seating. Thanks for your comment. I will say that each time I walk past Teavana in Pacific Place, I definitely think it smells great. And I would think Portland would be a great city for a Tazo store. We are super coffee-centric in Seattle. Well, and Portland is where Tazo began a long time ago. 🙂
A little birdie told me the opening date is in Nov.
Really no seating inside? Wow! I have been to Teavana stores and know there are no seats but just cannot imagine SB would do that.
how cool! i’ll be in seattle the end of october-beginning of november, so i hope it’s open for my arrival! or maybe i can get a sneak peek 🙂
So in about a month, a person will be able to visit two Starbucks stores (three if you count the licensed store in the QFC grocery), a Tazo Tea store and an Evolution Fresh store all in a single visit to University Village. Only in Seattle!
@Rachel – I have always considered it four Starbucks in University Village – Isn’t there one in the Barnes & Noble too? Plus the QFC Starbucks – which, by the way, is quite nice for a licensed store – and then the 2 company operated stores – all so close to each other. And now Evolution Fresh and Tazo! It is remarkable!
Here is the front of the new Evolution Fresh under construction at University Village – And that site makes a lot of sense for an Evolution Fresh, more so than Pine Street.
http://starbucksmelody.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2-2-5609-Evolution-Fresh-exterior-Under-Construction-13Oct2012.jpg
http://starbucksmelody.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2-1-5606-Evolution-Fresh-exterior-Under-Construction-13Oct2012.jpg
I had thought that I might later do a whole blog post on the new Evolution Fresh, but it will be like the 4th Evolution Fresh, and I’m not sure about doing another E.F. article any time soon.
The new Evolution store looks like it will be another nicely designed store. I have to ask though does SB think opening these new stores will only work in Seattle? I guess I do not totally understand how they decide to roll out new stores in other regions.
Melody, you are of course correct. I had forgotten about the UV Barnes & Noble “We Proudly Brew Starbucks Coffee” cafe. B&N locations are often dismissed. But that is whole other discussion topic.
@Purple1 –
As far as I know, there’s one Evolution Fresh in Bellevue, Washington (the first one), one is downtown Seattle (Pine Street), and as I understand it, there is one already open in San Francisco. I haven’t even seen photos of that one, but I’ve heard that it exists. So this University Village one will make four. I think it takes a long while for Starbucks to migrate their new ideas East, but you’ll get one eventually, I’m sure. At least somewhere on the East Coast – Actually, I’d love to see an Evolution Fresh in Boston.
@Melody – didn’t you mean you’d love to see an Evolution Fresh in Chicago? 😉
@Cd – Oh yes yes. Silly typo. I did mean Chicago. 😉
I love the dimensional wall with the teacups and tealeaves! Is that permanent or is it just up to hide construction? LOVE how it looks!
Since I see it mentioned a couple times, thought I’d point out that the Barnes & Noble in U-Village closed just after Christmas last year. (Much to disappointment of regular visitors like myself.) The space has been split into a few clothing stores & a restaurant, which made way for the Tazo store.
@Kristen – I am glad you corrected me. In my brain, I still see a Barnes & Noble there because it had been there for so long. And when I was at University Village yesterday, I also noticed that Johnny Rockets was gone. Seems to be a “veggie grill” now. I think there is still a Johnny Rockets in Pacific Place. Though honestly, I’d far rather have a Red Mill Burger here in Seattle.
Hello everyone!
My name is Meggan, I will be the store manager for the TAZO store! I am incredibly excited!!
To answer Purple1’s question, Melody had it right! We will accept Starbucks cards, as well as have our own TAZO branded card that works at Starbucks.
Also, Melody-Thank you so much for posting about hiring. We are still looking for tea passionate employees who like to spend time helping customers discover their favoite teas! Visit Starbucks.com to apply.
We will see you all at our store opening, hopefully! Take care.
oh my gosh, I can’t wait to get a peek inside the store! If the construction singage is that pretty, I bet the actual insides will be fantastic!
Meggan thanks for the info. I assume that since you are accepting the SB cards the store also is involved in the SB rewards program? Now, all you have to do is open one in my area! This concept sounds wonderful and it appears you have such great passion for tea.