While the Bushwick/Ridgewood border is no stranger to Starbucks, the coffee giant is making its first foray into Bed-Stuy with a 2,500 square-foot location soon to arrive on the Bushwick/Bed-Stuy border at 774 Broadway.
Representatives of Starbucks told Commercial Observer that this particular location will be a “community store,” meaning that it will partner with a local non-profit to provide job training for 16-to-24-year-olds who aren’t in school.
“The training covers the basics of customer service, barista skills and food-safety certifications, amongst other areas, to prepare local youth for jobs with Starbucks or other businesses,” the spokeswoman said.
The store is not set to open until the second quarter of 2018—nearly a year from now—which gives Bushwick more than enough time to debate the merits of a Starbucks in that area. A representative from the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield said the combination of the hospital on the corner and an influx of young professionals make the neighborhood a smart choice for Starbucks.
The location is currently home to Fat Albert’s Warehouse, a giant discount department store. It appears that Albert Srour, the owner, has been looking to retire. Last year, his son and president of Bklyn Commons, a co-working space, signed a lease on another portion of the building.
Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.