A new business is coming to the vacant building on 1895 Franklin Blvd., and it’s a familiar one.
On Sept. 21, nine months after Wendy’s left the location, Starbucks, the Seattle based coffee company, filed plans with the city of Eugene to change the former burger chain stop into a 2,500 square foot drive-through cafe.
A Starbucks company spokesperson confirmed plans to move into the old Wendy’s location to the Register Guard on Dec. 5, adding “Right now, we don’t have any more details to share on this location.”
On Dec 17. plans were filed with the city of Eugene for 10 added Starbucks signs, with separate plans filed to add electricity to the aforementioned signs.
The city is in the process of inspecting and approving the new building permit. Until the building permits are fully approved and issued, construction on the new Starbucks can’t begin.
According to Elon Glucklich of the Register-Guard, the plan for the construction of the new Starbucks is to replace the former interior that Wendy’s used with “cafe-style seating and lounge area” while remodeling the outside of the venue.
The building, according to Glucklich, was sold in May for $1.5 million to Equitas Investments, a Southern California commercial real estate and development investment group. Along with Starbucks, Equitas Investments acquires locations for other major businesses like Burger King, Arby’s, KFC and Wendy’s. The company also owns the property of the 7-Eleven on Alder St.
The latter business deserted the confines of the Eugene/Springfield area almost a year ago. According to the Associated Press, five Wendy’s in the area were closed after the Ohio based company believed local franchisee Jeff Vogel failed to hold up certain agreements in the company-to-franchise agreement. Eight restaurants in total were closed across Oregon last January.
Wendy’s spokesperson Bob Bertini wouldn’t go into specifics on what obligations Vogel failed to uphold, but he did tell AP on Jan 21. 2015, “This is a step that we felt we needed to take in the best interests of the Wendy’s brand and our franchise system as a whole. We value our relationship with our franchisees, and, certainly, an action like this is something that we do not take lightly.”
The prospective drive-through location would be the 20th Starbucks location in Eugene. If plans for the new location are successful, it would also mark the second new location in the city in as many years. The Erb Memorial Union opened a Starbucks on Sept 21., becoming the first vendor to open business in the newly remodeled location. There is also a Starbucks location at the corner of 13th. Ave. and Alder St. right outside the University of Oregon campus.
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Plans in place for 20th Eugene Starbucks near campus
Joseph Hoyt
January 4, 2016
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