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Plans for a new Starbucks in Altoona met by opposition from business owner, residents

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Plans for a new Starbucks in Altoona met by opposition from business owner, residents

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Plans for another coffee shop in Altoona are being met with opposition from residents and the city’s only locally-owned coffee shop.

Altoona’s fifth Starbucks could be built at 501 Eighth St. SW, the site of the former Family Video, pending city council approval on Monday, Nov. 4.

The standalone Starbucks was first proposed during a Sept. 24 meeting of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

Construction plans include demolishing the existing building to make way for a new 2,400-square-foot facility with a drive-thru that accommodates up to 21 cars. The site would also have room for outdoor seating and a parking lot that could house roughly 25 cars, according to the latest documents shared with the Register by City Development Director John Shaw.

Local coffeeshop owner said new Starbucks would hurt business

Altoona’s only locally-owned coffee shop, Best Day Coffee, sits nearby at 404 Eighth St SW. It opened in December 2023.

Owner Kara Ohorilko said in an interview with the Register that a Starbucks would be “a pretty devastating situation for my business. “

“It’s a huge, very well-recognized, very well-established business,” Ohorilko said. “To have something like that go right across the street… it would be incredibly difficult for me.”

The Altoona Planning and Zoning Commission denied a recommendation to build the Starbucks after residents expressed concerns about a possible traffic bump, fearing for the safety of elementary children. Altoona Elementary School is stationed a few blocks from the proposed Starbucks site at 301 6th Street.

Altoona City Council postponed coffee shop decision

The Altoona City Council first considered the Starbucks plans at the plans during a meeting on Oct. 7 but deferred a decision until their first meeting in November.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

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