The world’s largest specialty coffee chain once shunned the drivethru concept, fearing it might alienate customers who like to come inside and sip their lattes while listening to music in cozy chairs.
In the early 1990s, as independent espresso stands were starting to gain a steady following, Starbucks stuck to its original game plan: giving people a “third place” to escape from the hustle and bustle of home and work.
Eventually, it got hard to ignore coffee lovers’ demand for a quick java fix without leaving the warmth of their driver’s seats.
CBS NEWS