Starbucks unveils first 3D printed store in Texas, built with robotic layered concrete

History of Starbucks

Starbucks opened its first coffee shop in 1971.

A new Starbucks store in Texas is turning heads—and not just for its coffee.

This Friday, the company is opening its first-ever 3D printed location in the United States, a drive-thru-only shop in Brownsville, near the U.S.-Mexico border. The structure’s futuristic ridged walls were formed using a robotic arm that layered concrete, a construction method more commonly seen in housing than retail.

The compact building might look like a standard Starbucks at a glance, but its walls tell a different story: one of automation, experimentation, and possibly the future of fast-build retail spaces.

Starbucks enters the world of 3D printed construction

The backstory:

While Starbucks hasn’t detailed its long-term plans for 3D printing, the company confirmed to the Associated Press that this is its first U.S. store built using the technology.

The store was constructed by layering concrete via a computer-controlled robotic arm—a technique that cuts down on manual labor and can streamline timelines in some settings. It’s a process that’s been tested in residential housing for several years, but rarely in commercial retail.

Experts in the field say Starbucks’ step into 3D printing reflects broader curiosity across the construction industry.

The exterior of Starbucks’ first 3D printed store in the U.S., located in Brownsville, Texas. The drive-thru-only building features ridged concrete walls created by a robotic arm using 3D printing technology.

"It’s early days yet," said James Rose, director of the Institute for Smart Structures at the University of Tennessee, speaking to the AP. "You’re going to see lots of experimentation."

Why Brownsville—and why now?

Local perspective:

Starbucks hasn’t said why it chose Brownsville, a city of around 190,000 people, for its first venture into 3D printed stores. The chain already operates several locations in the area.

Still, the decision drew attention from locals like Faviola Maldonado, who watched the building slowly take shape. "It was just different," she told the AP. "It was super high technology."

Is 3D printing ready for mainstream retail?

Big picture view:

Although building with 3D printing still costs more than traditional wood framing, some believe the long-term payoff is in speed, labor efficiency, and scalability.

Andrew McCoy, associate director at Virginia Tech’s Myers-Lawson School of Construction, called the Brownsville location "leading edge" in an interview with the AP. He noted that the technology is improving quickly and could eventually become more cost-effective.

"You are starting to see the technology is getting faster, smaller," McCoy said. "It’s getting easier to use."

With ongoing construction labor shortages and rising material costs, 3D printed buildings may offer companies like Starbucks a new path forward—especially for smaller-format stores. Whether this becomes a trend or a one-off remains to be seen.