Starbucks-Anchored Center to Include Taco Factory

After a couple of hiccups, construction on a Starbucks-anchored retail and office project at Valley Boulevard and Lemon Avenue is moving ahead at a steady pace.

Community Development Director Tom Weiner gave a status update at a recent Walnut Planning Commission meeting.

"There were some issues there with construction," Weiner said. "Construction was being done, but not acccording to plans."

City staff has gone through the plans with the developer and ironed out all of the building and planning issues, he said.  The estimated completion date is early July, he said.

The interior tenant improvements for the Starbucks have been approved and now it is just a matter of getting the shell finished, so the coffee chain can move forward with its plans, Weiner said. Starbucks is expected to be the first shell completed.

Also planning to move into the center is the Mexican fast food chain Taco Factory, Weiner said this week. The applicants have submitted for building and plan check.

Walnut previously had a Taco Factory in the Vons shopping center, but it closed about a year ago, he said.

"We are obviously happy tha a business is choosing to return to the city," he said.

In February 2012, the commission approved the retail and office development.  A conditional-use permit for the drive-thru Starbucks was granted in May 2012.

Weiner said the city is working with the developers on enhanced signage, as the project is right at an entry point into Walnut.

"They seem to have good momentum now," he said.