Building on the popularity of introducing the first Starbucks café on the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Ariz., Bashas’ Diné Markets plans to add two more Starbucks locations — one in Tuba City and the other in Kayenta — to serve the Navajo people.
“It’s our honor to expand the Starbucks offerings at our Bashas’ Diné Markets,” said Johnny Basha, vice president of special projects for Chandler, Ariz.-based Bashas’ Family of Stores. “We continually listen to asks from the communities we serve, including our Navajo customers, and we are excited to provide convenient access to the products and services that the Navajo Nation wants.”
Currently under construction, the second Starbucks cafe on the Navajo Nation will celebrate its grand opening at the Bashas’ Diné Market in Tuba City on Sat., Aug. 21. A traditional Navajo blessing will take place prior to the opening.
Throughout the weekend, Bashas’ will encourage Starbucks customers to take a selfie at the new Tuba City location and publicly post it to their social media platforms using the hashtag #BashasTubaCityStarbucks for a chance to win a $50 Bashas’ gift card. A winner will be randomly selected on Monday, Aug. 23.
The Starbucks addition in Tuba City will add up to 20 jobs to the local community. The Bashas’ Diné Market in Kayenta will open the third Starbucks café on the Navajo Nation in early October.
The Starbucks addition at the Tuba City Bashas' Diné Market, scheduled to open Aug. 21, will add up to 20 jobs to the local community.
Bashas’ continued connection with the Navajo people began in 1982, when the grocer opened its first Bashas’ Diné Market on the Navajo Nation. Since then, Bashas’ has been an active and involved member of the Navajo Nation, supporting education, nutrition, art and health and wellness through community programs and collaborations. Each Bashas’ Diné Market location also gives back 25% of its profits to the Navajo Nation. Through this profit-sharing arrangement, in addition to rent and percentage rent, Bashas’ has contributed upwards of $48 million to the Navajo Nation for educational scholarship and economic development.
During the past year, Bashas’ has helped to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the reservation by securing and distributing food, water and sanitizer to tribe members, Navajo Nation Police and other frontline workers. Additionally, the Starbucks Foundation gave grants to organizations like Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) and the Center for American Indian Health in support of their work with the Navajo Nation.
“We value our longstanding partnership with the Basha family and are excited to see the expansion of the Starbucks franchise on the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. “The new location within the Tuba City Bashas’ Diné Market will provide more jobs and options for community members and a world- renowned storefront that is familiar to visitors and tourists. This will also provide a boost to the economy, help to keep revenue on the Navajo Nation, and promote the ‘Buy Navajo, Buy Local’ initiative.”
Although Bashas’ is one of very few non-Native-American retailers with stores on the Navajo Nation, Bashas’ Diné Markets have become the modern-day trading post for the Navajo people, says the retailer. Through its history serving the Navajo Nation, Bashas’ has learned a great deal about creating stores by and for the Navajo people, from the products on store shelves to the visual elements that emphasize native design, symbols, and decorative art.
“Bashas’ Diné Markets exist and succeed because of our commitment to the Navajo people,” said Johnny Basha. “From the beginning, we’ve considered it a privilege to work side-by-side with the Navajo, to learn about and from them, and to share in a vision for stimulating economic growth. The strength of this partnership rests largely on the value and emphasis we’ve put into developing our cultural proficiency and creating markets that serve the unique needs of shoppers.”
Bashas’ Family of Stores operates more than 100 grocery stores under the banners Food City, AJ's Fine Foods, Eddie's Country Store and both Bashas' and Bashas' Diné. While the majority of stores are located in Arizona, the company also operates two stores in New Mexico.