NORTH BRANFORD — Town residents may order an iced caramel macchiato or a caffe Americano a little closer to home when Starbucks comes to town at 286 Branford Road near the Central Plaza.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the application last September for the 2,465-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru. It will also feature a large lobby and expansive patio, according to renderings.
Last week, Starbucks applied for a building permit, according to Town Planner David Perkins, who said the town does not yet have a timeline for when construction would start.
Currently the nearest Starbucks are at 6 N. Main St. and 3 E. Industrial Road, both in Branford.
Town Manager Michael Downes said the town welcomes the national coffee chain.
“Starbucks has been doing an expansion in New Haven County and we're pleased that one of their new locations is going to be right here in North Branford,” Downes said.
In neighboring East Haven, a Starbucks was included in site plans for the proposed redevelopment of the former Seasons banquet hall, which was approved by the town in 2023. The plan included fast-food restaurants, a medical office and a self-storage facility. No construction has taken place at this time.
Drawings for that project showed Starbucks along with Five Guys and Chipotle Mexican Grill would be built at the commercial property, which sits near the East Haven-New Haven line on Foxon Road, also known as Route 80.
Downes said he is especially pleased to have the popular chain and its established business in to North Branford, as “Starbucks has a tested and established business."
“The location's ideal," he said. "It's adjacent to a plaza we're working to improve and promote patron traffic to.”
The PZC approved the application with the special condition for the building’s façade “to have a New England style,” and a retaining wall to display a “natural stone façade appearance.”
New sidewalks will continue down Route 139 about 60 feet to plaza entrance, according to the PZC approval.
“That whole Central Plaza area we're looking to improve and focus on," he said. "And this certainly is a good anchor point for that."
Downes said he hopes the Starbucks construction will spur more improvements to the aging Central Plaza shopping area.
“There's an important aspect to this, we're partnering with the businesses that are located there to try to address their needs and what they want out of being here,” he said.
The town is working with the property owner, JSMN Properties LLC, based in New Jersey, according to town records.
“We're definitely exploring ways we can improve that area and partner with them and the landlord to make that a greatly improved plaza for the businesses and the patrons,” Downes said.
Starbucks joins two Dunkin' Donuts in town, one at 1199 Foxon Road and the other in Northford center. There are a few establishments that also feature coffee prominently on their menu.
Among those are Poppy's Restaurant which serves coffee and breakfast; The Hidden Kitchen which has specialty coffees made with alcohol, in addition to fresh brewed coffee and tea; Sweet Poppy’s, a bake shop, offers fresh brewed coffees from Utica Coffee from New York as well as specialty teas and flavored coffees.