Saratoga News

Starbucks sets sights on Argonaut location

By Sarah Lombardo

After an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a use permit for operation in Saratoga Village, Starbucks Coffee Company is trying again, this time looking to open its doors in the Argonaut Shopping Center on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. A public hearing before the Planning Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, in the council chambers at 13777 Fruitvale Ave.

James Walgren, Saratoga interim director of community development, said the coffee company wants to move into a corner storefront at the shopping center, currently occupied by a travel agency. The center recently won approval for renovations, but, Walgren said, renovations have not yet begun, and it appears Starbucks plans to move into the center before they are completed.

Starbucks was involved in a bitter battle with residents in January when the Seattle-based chain applied for a permit to locate on the corner of Big Basin Way and Los Gatos-Saratoga Road at 14410 Big Basin Way, presently the location of Corinthian Flowers. Residents claimed the ambiance of the Village would be ruined by a big-name chain and feared an increase in traffic would lead to unsafe conditions. The debate pitted merchants against each other. Some claimed the more people attracted to the Village, the better; others insisted Starbucks' presence would be economically harmful.

Planning commissioners, legally allowed only to consider issues of safety and traffic when issuing use permits, said they denied the permit because they didn't think the location provided enough parking or traffic circulation.

Scheduled to return to the commission in February, Starbucks withdrew its application Feb. 6.

"After meeting with residents, merchants, city staff and community leaders, we sought to find a common solution to the parking and traffic concerns," Starbucks' withdrawal letter stated. "However, we have chosen to pursue other development options that were encouraged by many of you, rather than request a continuance of the hearing scheduled."

Starbucks officials are keeping quiet about their chances of winning approval for the Argonaut Shopping Center location.

"We do not have a lease signed there, so it would be really early to say how the store would do there," Elise Wellford, a spokeswoman for Starbucks said. Wellford added that the appearance before the commission was not set in stone at this point.

Walgren said that he thought the project had a good chance of winning approval because the only way the commission could deny a use permit would be for traffic or parking concerns. Those concerns, he said, don't seem to be a problem in Argonaut.

If the Starbucks project gets the stamp of approval, residents could be smelling coffee brewing as early as late July.

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