By Stella Kim
skim@soundpublishing.com
After 15 years, the Starbucks coffee shop on Mickelberry Road closed their doors for the last time, on July 26. But those who depend on a cup of Joe to start the day had no cause for alarm – two days later, store manager Heather Peterson Higgins opened the doors to a brand new Starbucks drive-thru “reserve” store on the corner of Silverdale Way and Bucklin Hill Road.
“I like that our new location is larger than our previous one. I like that we have those fancy new reserve coffees and also the drive-thru,” Higgins said. “It just gives our customers more places to sit. It’s bringing a whole new customer base.”
Reserve stores are Starbuck’s premium brand.
The baristas and a few new faces relocated to the reserve Starbucks with the closing of the old store, which was known as the “Starbucks 2” store.
“There was talks about having a drive-thru in Silverdale for a long period of time. And that was all part of a corporate decision. So it was just a matter of timing that we would open up a new location that had a drive-thru,” Higgins said.
The new store has extended hours and is open on weekdays from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“Normally what Starbucks does is we have a soft opening which is like our friends and family. Then we work out the kinks for a couple weeks then we have an actual grand opening to welcome the neighborhood in. We will have lots of samples, live music and just have some fun in the store to share what we have,” said Higgins.
The official grand opening to the Starbucks drive-thru is set for Aug. 14 from 4-8 p.m. and also Aug. 22 from 4-8 p.m.
This new location will soon be what Starbucks calls an “Evenings” store: They will sell beer, wine and small plate appetizers. Heather says they are hoping to launch the evenings store in October.
At the friends and family soft opening on July 28, Debi Rickabaugh, the former nine-year manager of the Starbucks 2 store, was honored by receiving the honorary first beverage. Along with her favorite coffee, Debi was presented with a relic piece from the old store.
“I love the people. I love the partners that I get to work with. I love the customers and I like to make them happy,” Higgins said.
