Commission OKs green window film for Starbucks but bars branded text; final graphics to return to staff

The San Antonio Historic Design and Review Commission on March 5 approved a certificate of appropriateness for green window film at a Starbucks location on East Houston Street, but required the applicant to remove branded text and corporate graphics and to return final decorative artwork to staff before a certificate is issued.

Staff recommended approval with the condition that “signage, to include branding and branded graphics, be eliminated from the request,” a staff member told the commission. The condition is intended to prevent additional signage that the commission determined would be inappropriate for the building facades in the historic district.

Tabitha Sherman, identified herself as a construction manager for the South Central Starbucks team and presented the request. Sherman said a previously installed opaque film made the storefront look “not very inviting” and that company operations favored a green film to match other store elements. She told commissioners that the firm could provide alternate color options and that she could ask designers to remove text and branded graphics if required.

Staff clarified that the existing opaque film already blocks views of back-of-house operations and that the commission’s question was about adding branding rather than the amount of coverage. A commissioner asked whether eliminating the words “Starbucks Coffee Company” from the proposed film would be acceptable; Sherman said she would take that direction back to her design team and likewise could resubmit a revised design for administrative approval.

A motion to approve the request with staff stipulations — removal of branded graphics and return of final decorative graphics to staff before a certificate of appropriateness is issued — passed on a roll call vote. The certificate of appropriateness will be prepared and emailed within 10 days; any installation still requires standard city permits.