Chris Robinson of Easley, South Carolina, spends his days, as the owner of the Robinson Funeral Home, helping people in grief. This summer, he plans to continue his job of alleviating the spirits of the bereaved, however, with the help of the infamous franchise, Starbucks.
Robinson is building a "Coffee Corner" in the lobby of the Funeral Home and said that the addition of a Starbucks on the premises (complete with a Wi-Fi area, fireplace and television) is intended as one more way to comfort those grieving, according to ABC News.
"It should help families escape from the stress a little bit, having a private area to get their minds off of what's going on," Robinson told ABC News.
Although the coffee shop will not be a full-fledged Starbucks, its employees will be trained by the company, they will be on Robinson's staff and Robinson's agreement with Starbucks requires that there will be no glowing green Starbucks sign outside the funeral home.
The coffee is intended primarily for funeral attendees, but it will be open to the public via a patio entrance. Robinson stated his concerns that some "might get the wrong idea" and stressed that the Starbucks will be on the opposite end of the facility from the chapel.
"You won't be hit in the face with it," Robinson said. "You could walk through the entire funeral home and hardly know it's there."
The option for Robinson's homemade coffee or a free cup of joe still stands, but for those who prefer Starbucks coffee, that will be another uplifting alternative available.
Starbucks spokeswoman Alisa Martinez said the agreement between Robinson and Starbucks is one of tens of thousands of food service accounts the company has with establishments that range from hospitals to auto dealerships to health clubs.
"If we're going to offer a Coffee Corner, we're going to get the best there is," Robinson said.
Besides meeting the needs of people who have lost loved ones, the coffee shop can serve another purpose, according to Robinson.
"It will help people who are intimidated at stepping foot in a funeral home," he told CNN. "They may not feel out of sorts."
Within a few weeks, Starbucks will begin installing equipment and menus, according to Robinson, and the coffee will begin brewing in August.
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