Starbucks could soon open South Boston location

(Image courtesy Google Maps)

By Patrick D. Rosso, Town Correspondent

Starbucks could soon be opening up shop in South Boston. The coffee giant goes before the city’s Licensing Board seeking permission to open at the soon-to-be-finished 11 West Broadway development.

The chain will appear before the board Wednesday, petitioning for a food-serving license with an opening hour of 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. closing, according to city documents.

The board will make its decision to defer, grant, or deny the license Thursday.

Starbucks locations can be found in the Waterfront district but this would be first one to open near the heart of South Boston.

Starbucks would be one of the first businesses to occupy the building that is being built on the West Broadway parcel that once housed the Quiet Man Pub.

Bill Gleason, president of the West Broadway Neighborhood Association, said: "We're always excited to see another retailer come into the neighborhood, but I hope they don't come at the cost of a local business. There is probably enough volume that everyone should be able to exist."

Gleason said that the booming construction in the area reflects the growing economic health of the community.

"Nine years ago all we had was a Dunkin' Donuts; now the area has become more dense and vibrant," he said. "What's also exciting is it's a place where the community can gather and interact with each other."

In addition to ground-floor retail, the six-story, 95,000-square-foot structure will house 50 residential rental units and 26 parking spaces.

The units will be split between one and two-bedrooms.

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Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso, or friend him on Facebook.