Starbucks makes an interesting move
Starbucks often gets a bad rap, but they are a company that’s concerned about the environment. They repurpose buildings when they can, making each Starbucks an individual experience while maintaining the ambiance their customers have come to expect. One of their newest offerings is from a renovated gas station in Hollywood, California, and it is stunning.
Gilmore Oil Company was a booming business in the Los Angeles area in the 1920s and 1930s. One of their gas stations, located at Highland and Willoughby, was designed by R.J. Kadow in 1935 in the Art Deco style. The gas station had been showing its age for many years, but it could not be demolished because it had been designated a Historic-Cultural Landmark in 1992.
The Art Deco style of architecture represented modern technology, glamour, and luxury. One of the most iconic exhibits of the style is the spire of the Chrysler building. In the 1930s the Art Deco style was very popular for public buildings, like railway stations and amusement parks. It also inspired the Chrysler Airflow Sedan.
Repurposing a building that has a historic label is not as easy as it seems
There are many codes that have to be followed to maintain the integrity of the building as well as make it functional for its current purpose. Starbucks went through many phases of planning and building to be able to retain this building and turn it into the beautiful coffee shop that is expected to open in a few months.
Starbucks is a leader not just in the coffee industry, but in urban renewal development. There is a large market of historical buildings that need to be honored for their place in history that deserve the renovation to be the place they once were. It’s created a buzz for this location, providing free advertising that is positive and beneficial to the entire Starbucks company. That kind of publicity just can’t be bought at any price.
