Chicago Special Events, Starbucks-Style
With peak wedding season winding down, but holiday festivities coming up quickly, event planning is at the forefront of a lot of minds in Chicago. Planning that one perfect evening for family and friends, or even all your co-workers, can be seriously stressful! From the perfect locationto the right food and drink, even a group date night takes a lot of planning these days. That’s why it’s sometimes best to leave it to the professionals.
The Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Chicago has a team of event planning experts to help you with just that, offering everything from intimate two-person tours of their five-story coffee mecca to specially-planned events of all sizes for companies and groups to celebrate together. And they do all the heavy lifting when it comes to planning and execution (phew!)
You don’t have to be a coffee aficionado to appreciate their offerings - just be ready for a good time. Whether you want a spot to watch the upcoming Festival of Lights parade, host a date night that will blow away that special someone, or throw a giant party for your whole company, they have a space and a plan to make your event extra special.
Chelsea Shores, Events Specialist at the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery, explained the wide range of ways that her team at the Roastery can cater to your special event needs, and give you a great coffee education in the process...
DI4W: The Roastery continues to be a bustling Chicago destination! Why is this a spot that people come back to again and again?
Shores: The Roastery is coming up on its 3rd anniversary on the Magnificent Mile (I still can’t believe it’s been 3 years!) and we continue to see returning guests from around the world who have now made us a part of their Chicago traditions. Whether you are a local Chicagoan with family in town or a first-timer to the city, we welcome all guests to come and spend time with us as there is so much to do at the Roastery between coffee, food, cocktails, experiences…the list keeps going! I think guests love that we are such a big, unique space but can still also make you feel right at home.
In addition to daily visitors, you also help plan and host events throughout the Roastery. How do you customize those for different group sizes and needs?
We offer everything from small to large scale events, from semi-private celebrations to full space buyouts. No event is too small or too big for us and at the Roastery you get a unique space and event unlike anything else in Chicago. You won’t ever host or attend another event like the ones we plan!
Where throughout your (expansive!) space can people have events or personalized experiences?
The answer is: everywhere! Really! I love working with groups of all sizes, from an intimate
proposal for two on the rooftop to corporate holiday events of 800+ attendees (yes, I have planned both before). We can customize and create what clients are looking for using our unique space as the backdrop.
For smaller groups, you also offer “Roastery Revealed“ Tours. Tell us about those!
Our Roastery Revealed Experience has become very popular and a “must do!” in Chicago. Ranging from team outings, a unique holiday gift, or just anyone who wants to learn more about the history and get behind the scenes information about Starbucks Reserve® Roasteries, it’s got something for everyone. The experience includes a private guided tour, a coffee tasting and chocolate truffle pairing with a Starbucks coffee master barista, and a take-home bag of Starbucks Reserve® coffee. Something to remember your visit by ;)
What about other classes or educational coffee experiences do you have coming up?
I’m excited to announce that we will be bringing back FeBREWary this upcoming year, which is a month-long celebration in February of all things coffee which includes coffee brewing seminars where guests get to brew their own coffee on a Chemex as well as get in-depth coffee tasting with a coffee master Roaster. Mark your calendars and get ready to up your coffee knowledge!
Tell us some of your favorite memories of past events!
Oh that’s a tough one! I have loved all the events we have hosted as each has been so unique and I have had the very best of clients. Some standouts have been the first wedding at the Roastery (such a big milestone) and anytime we get musical entertainment (those have included a live all-female mariachi group and a 12 piece karaoke band, to name a few). In addition, during The Festival of Lights parade every year, our rooftop terrace has the best view of the parade so typically that gets booked out and that’s always fun for everyone! We love that exciting kick-off to the holiday season!
On that note, can you give us any sneak peaks of how the Roastery will be celebrating the holidays this year?
As always, the Roastery is one of the best and coziest places in town to come and enjoy with loved ones during the holidays. We’ll have a warm cup of coffee waiting with your name on it!
Interview by Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor