It has finally happened, as of 8AM this morning you can get a hot cup of Starbucks Coffee at Avenida Escazu Costa Rica. The hours of operation for the new store are planned to be 7am to 11pm on Sunday to Thursday and 7am to midnight on Friday and Saturday. But for the first few business days the famously named coffee shop will remain open after hours until the last person leaves.

According to Vice President and General Manager of Starbucks Latin America, Pablo Arizmendi-Kalb, opening the new store will create twenty seven new jobs. The Vice President did not want to disclose investment amounts, preferring to keep certain strategic issues from the competition. This grand opening marks the 565^th Starbucks throughout Latin America, but only the 7^th in Central America and puts Costa Rica on the map as the 60^th country to host Starbucks Coffee from a consumer store standpoint.

Here in Central America, the major corporation is managed by the Salvadorian company CFA. Corporación de Franquicias Americanas also runs 138 stores of international chains such as, Pizza Hut, KFC and Wendy’s.

In regards to more Starbucks locations in Costa Rica, Vice President Arizmendi-Kalb stated that, “we are focused on the opening of the first shop and running it well. There is no defined plan for expansion, but yes, we will be opening more locations.”

The 41 year old company is going to stay competitive within the Costa Rican market. The menu says that an 8 ounce cup of Starbucks Coffee will cost clients 1100 colones, while an 8 ounce cappuccino will only run them 300 colones more at 1400 colones. Starbucks greatest asset against competition is the quality of their premium coffees. In addition to this, Starbucks has teamed up with the Tres Rios, Cartago company Bella Vista for the sales of their individualized bags of coffee inside of the store.

Source: El Financiero