Better Latte Than Never: Funeral Home Adds Starbucks For Mourners . . . And Walk-Ins

What is appropriate as a caffeinated drink at a funeral? A Frappuccino seems a bit festive but a Caramel Macchiato seems too loud for the occasion. Perhaps a specialty mortician mocha to give you that jolt you need to make it through the eulogy. That is the difficult choice that will face mourners at the Robinson Funeral Home in Easley, South Carolina where the fourth-generation family will be adding a Starbucks shop. It is not clear why a coffee machine with some Starbucks coffee would not suffice but mourners will soon be able to sign the deceased’s visitor book and move directly over to the baristas at the “Coffee Corner.”

The owner, Chris Robinson, says that this is no departure for the family, which has always had multitasking morticians. Robinson says that family started its business as part of a general store where people could buy coffee and various sundries. Notably the Starbucks will be open to the public which can pop by to just get a cup of Joe while Joe is laid out in the next room. It is not clear how your everyday coffee drinker will take to stopping by the local funeral home for a cup or how the traffic to the “Coffee Corner” will affect services since folks would presumably be coming by in flip flops and jeans (though this does bring a new meaning to the sign “No shirt, no shoes, no service).

Since this will be the first Starbucks in the town, they may have to get over any aversion to the locale. Just don’t ask for a stiff one.

Source: WSPA