Word on the Street: Two new Starbucks coming in north Fresno

Two new Starbucks are coming to north Fresno – one replacing a Starbucks slated for demolition due to high-speed rail – along with space for other businesses.

One Starbucks will be built on an empty lot at the northeast corner of Nees Avenue and First Street, between Walgreens and the Sakura Chaya restaurant.

Construction will start in several weeks, says retail broker Mark Saito of Mark Saito Co.

The building has 5,000 square feet left for businesses that haven’t been chosen yet.

“I’ve got a tremendous amount of interest from a bunch of different tenants,” he said.

That includes interest from a restaurant, and a hair or nail salon, he said.

In northwest Fresno, a new Starbucks is already under construction on Golden State Boulevard near Herndon Avenue. The coffee shop is being built directly in front of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

It is technically a move because the Starbucks 200 yards south has closed and will be torn down to make way for high speed rail. That building also housed a Subway and a Yukon Jack’s, and is now empty.

Yukon Jack’s owners could not be reached for comment, but their website says they plan to relocate the restaurant “in the immediate area very soon.”

A nearby Shell station and Burger King are also slated to be demolished. The two hotels will remain.

The new Starbucks building also has space for other small businesses. None have been finalized yet but several have expressed interest, including deli, a liquor store and a phone business.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 3:21 PM with the headline "Word on the Street: Two new Starbucks coming in north Fresno."