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A former Tommy’s Drive-Thru location in Pasadena will get a caffeinated transformation as Starbucks relocates its Hill Avenue store to offer drive-thru service across the street.
The new Starbucks, set to open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Hill Avenue and Walnut Street, represents a strategic shift in Starbucks’ community engagement approach.
Through a partnership with local nonprofit Coffee With A Cause, the location aims to provide employment opportunities for transitional age youth, ages 16-24, facing challenges from foster care, homelessness, or justice system involvement.
The program accepts up to 20 youth per quarter. It provides soft employment skills training following Specialty Coffee Association of America standards through intensive internships.
Coffee With A Cause, which began as a mobile coffee cart named Rosebud before eventually establishing a permanent café in Pasadena, has demonstrated significant success in its workforce development initiatives.
Coffee With A Cause reports a 90 percent employment rate for program participants, having trained 35 youth between 2013 and 2021 while maintaining partnerships with five local nonprofits.
Dan Davidson, the organization’s founder and a Duke Divinity program graduate with a background in pastoral work, established the program to provide specialized training following industry standards.
The new Starbucks offers drive-thru service while adding traditional café amenities, including indoor and outdoor seating options for customers.
The grand opening celebration on Tuesday will feature coffee tastings, refreshments, and a community gathering with local dignitaries, including Councilmember Felicia Williams.
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