Courtesy of City Center Fort Worth
Fire Station No. 1 building in downtown Fort Worth
Coffee giant Starbucks has its eyes on a historic downtown Fort Worth building as part of a new, experimental concept it's rolling out across the country this year.
The Seattle-based chain plans to open a Starbucks Pickup location at the Fire Station No. 1 building, a more-than-a-century-old structure located at 203 Commerce St. Expected to open this fall, Starbucks Pickup will serve as a pickup-only store, sans traditional café seating — customers simply place their order via the Starbucks app, and the shop will have it ready for them to take to-go.
It's all part of Starbucks' plan, announced June 2020, to accelerate the opening of more than 50 Pickup stores by the end of 2021. The concept first launched in New York City in 2019.
Starbucks Pickup will be the second tenant at Fire Station No. 1. The 203 Café, owned by Reata Restaurant Group owner and president Mike Micallef, already resides on the second floor, open since 2017. The café is known for its weekday breakfast and lunch offerings, as well as the complimentary delivery service it offers the Wells Fargo and Bank of America towers that make up City Center.
“The addition of 203 Café to Fire Station No. 1 has been very well received, and our signature sandwiches are a huge hit,” Micallef said in a statement. “The management team at City Center have been outstanding to work with throughout COVID, and we are glad to be serving office workers who are coming back to downtown Fort Worth looking for delicious and satisfying food options that are easily accessible to their offices.”
Designed by architecture firm Sanguinet & Staats, Fire Station No. 1 has stood for at least 114 years, housing the original City Hall, with the mayor's office located on the second floor. The building saw restoration in 1980.
“One of the best things about working in downtown Fort Worth is the blending of the historic with modern amenities,” Johnny Campbell, president and CEO of City Center Management, said in a statement. “This contrast between the old and the new are what makes downtown so unique. At City Center, we enjoy all the conveniences of working in contemporary buildings, but we’re mere steps away from historic buildings. And they’ve been well maintained to operate in our modern world.”
