Starbucks introduced its first drive-through store in 1994.
The drive-through format allowed customers to order and collect Starbucks beverages without entering a café. It became an important part of the company’s store strategy, especially in areas where customers relied heavily on cars and convenience-oriented retail locations.
Drive-through stores differ from Starbucks’ original coffeehouse model, which emphasized a walk-in setting and the café experience. The format also differs from licensed Starbucks counters inside airports, supermarkets, and other businesses. The 1994 milestone refers to Starbucks’ first drive-through store, not to the later expansion of drive-through locations across the company’s store network.