How a simple CSV became a clean, interactive map using Pinable

Starbucks has thousands of locations across the U.S., but for this case study we wanted something focused, clear, and easy to explore. Washington, DC offered the perfect dataset: large enough to show interesting distribution patterns, but small enough that the map remains readable and fun to interact with.

We imported a list of Starbucks locations for the Washington, DC area directly into Pinable. There was no need for latitude or longitude data, the platform automatically geolocated each address and generated accurate coordinates for the map.

Interactive Map: Starbucks Locations in Washington, DC

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What the Map Shows

Looking at the final Starbucks map, several patterns immediately stand out:

1. A dense cluster in central Washington

The highest concentration of stores is clearly in the central area of DC, where foot traffic, offices, and attractions overlap. Most pins are packed into this central core.

2. Moderate coverage in nearby neighborhoods

Moving into neighborhoods north and northwest of downtown, the map shows a lighter (but still consistent) spread of Starbucks locations.

3. Sparse distribution farther from the core

Toward the outer edges of the DC metro area, including both Maryland and Virginia sides, the density drops. Stores appear more spaced out, with some areas showing only a few isolated locations.

4. A handful of outlier stores

Several pins represent standalone Starbucks in more suburban zones or along major commuting routes.

These patterns are all clearly visible when zooming in and out of the interactive map.

How We Built the Map (Simple + No Code)

The entire map was created in just a few minutes:

Uploaded a CSV of Starbucks store addresses No lat/lng required — Pinable geocoded everything automatically.
Selected a clean, minimal map theme Perfect for emphasizing clusters without distracting from geographic detail.
Tweaked colors and styling to match Starbucks green This helped the map feel cohesive and familiar.
Published and embedded the map Pinable generates a single script tag you can paste into any page or blog post.

This kind of workflow is ideal for franchises, chains, agencies, or anyone working with multi-location data.

Why This Case Study Matters

Franchises, retailers, and agencies often struggle to visualize location data quickly. This Starbucks example shows how:

You can go from raw addresses → interactive map in minutes
The map automatically scales to any website
Visualizing density helps reveal patterns you don’t notice in spreadsheets
You don’t need a developer or GIS tools to make something polished

It’s a simple demonstration of what Pinable can do with real-world data.

👉 Build your first map in minutes https://pinable.app

Photo by Konging Chen on Unsplash