Starbucks to open L.A. restaurant, part of its La Boulange cafe chain
Coffee purveyor Starbucks Corp. is venturing further into the food business by opening a branch of its La Boulange café chain in Los Angeles.
The restaurant, opening June 12, will cater to both a day and night crowd with sandwiches, build-your-own burgers and alcoholic offerings, including wine and cocktails, according to a statement from La Boulange.
Situated on La Brea Boulevard in the Mid-Wilshire area, the eatery will stay open until 10 p.m. every day.
Starbucks acquired the established Bay Area bakery brand for about $100 million in cash in 2012. At the time, Chief Executive Howard Schultz said the purchase was an investment in Starbucks’ growing food business.
The La Brea location is La Boulange’s first eatery outside of the San Francisco area. Along with burgers and beer, the restaurant’s menu will include items with local and sustainably sourced ingredients, said La Boulange spokeswoman Holly Hart Shafer.
“The menu builds on many of the traditional and popular dishes that have served in our San Francisco cafes for many years,” Shafer said.
The move is part of an overall trend by Starbucks to expand beyond its expertise in coffee into areas such as tea and juice.
Besides acquiring La Boulange, the company in recent years has snapped up San Bernardino juice business Evolution Fresh Inc. and Atlanta tea chain Teavana Holdings Inc.
Earlier this year, Starbucks said it will extend its post-4 p.m. evenings menu to thousands of stores around the country. The secltion includes beer, wine and food offerings such as chocolate fondue and chicken skewers.
