Get excited, coffee drinkers, because it looks like two new Starbucks stores are likely opening in Marion County.
The company has recently submitted plans for building two new locations in Ocala, including one store in downtown and the other in On Top of the World. While a spokesperson for On Top the World said no plans for the coffee shop had been confirmed, Tampa-based developer Ocean Bleu Group confirmed the plans for South Pine Avenue in downtown Ocala.
A former gas station at 43 South Pine Avenue is intended to be converted to a Starbucks, retail building and parking lot by the construction group Mid State Builders Exchange. The Starbucks will be a stand-alone building and will be the company’s latest prototype designed to comply with “form-based code,” which is a set of architecture standards that the city of Ocala is creating for downtown redevelopment.
The new downtown Starbucks will hopefully be open in late Fall of this year, and will make it the second downtown location for the coffee company, with the current store located at The Square.
Mid State Builders Exchange said development plans were submitted for the On Top of the World location at State Road 200, but that has yet to be verified.
Regardless of the intended plans for new Starbucks locations, the local coffee shop, Cup O’ the Irish, is not worried. Starbucks tends to give local coffee shops a run for their money, but Cup O’ the Irish says business is booming and they do not expect that to change. It didn't change when Dunkin' Donuts moved in down the street so it should not change now. This local coffee spot has its niche and a loyal customer base thats strong.
For more info on the potential new Starbucks stores, read the article at ocala.com.
