Memorial Hospital celebrates Starbucks grand opening

The new Memorial Hospital Starbucks is open for business.

Memorial Hospital President Larry Tracy knows it’s important to provide a comfortable and familiar place where people can gather. He considered this heavily while looking for a business partner for a new hospital restaurant.

“Most people are coming to us at their worst, and anything we can do to reduce their stress, fear and anxiety while creating a warm and welcoming environment all goes into the patient experience,” Tracy said. “Starbucks has that same belief in terms of the environment it wants to create, so it is a nice marriage for both of us.”

Tracy and Holland make it official.

Hospital staff, patients and hospital visitors gathered to watch Tracy and Starbucks Manager Pattie Holland cut a ceremonial ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of the well-known coffee retailer in the main lobby of the hospital.

“With Memorial Hospital and Beacon Health System being the largest provider in the region, we get a lot of traffic that comes through our doors,” Tracy said. “We wanted to make sure our patients, visitors, physicians and other associates have access to a premium brand.”

The new location offers the same premium hot and cold coffees, pastries and sandwiches found at other locations. Customers may also place orders via a mobile app for convenient pickup, as well as check current store hours.

Gail Weismann, Director, Nutritional Services, believes the new coffee shop isn’t just another retail store, but rather a symbolic representation of Beacon’s commitment to the community.

“One of the reasons I’m so excited about this Starbucks is because their mission aligns so well with Beacon’s mission,” she said. “Starbucks’ mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit, one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. It’s just like our mission to deliver outstanding care, inspire health and connect with heart to each patient. They pair really nicely together.”