New Starbucks To Be Built In Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A new standalone drive-thru Starbucks restaurant is heading to the Four Corners intersection in Lake Elsinore.

During Tuesday night's Lake Elsinore City Council meeting, council members voted 5-0 to approve the project at the northwest corner of Lakeshore and Riverside drives.

The project scope includes subdividing a 1.09-acre lot at the site. A 900-square-foot building that was a former check-cashing business has already been torn down at the spot, and in its place will be an 893-square-foot Starbucks on a .39-acre piece of the property.

After subdivision, the existing 11,000-square-foot multi-tenant building on .70 acres near the location will not be touched.

New drought-tolerant landscaping will be planted around the Starbucks and along both Lakeshore and Riverside drives.

Access to the coffee shop will be via existing driveways on both Lakeshore and Riverside drives. As part of the project, a traffic queuing plan to ease vehicle congestion in the area is being implemented, according to Justin Kirk, the city's assistant community development director.

Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kim Cousins was on hand for Tuesday's meeting and told council members he was "very supportive" of the project. For traffic safety reasons, he did request that the city consider traffic restrictions on left-hand turns from the Starbucks onto Lakeshore and Riverside.

Kirk told the council a raised protected-turn median was being discussed for Lakeshore Drive.

Mayor Bob Magee said the Starbucks project will significantly improve what has been a drab and dreary corner. In addition to the new landscaping, the Starbucks building will be designed with colors that complement the area.

Public sector dollars spent to improve Lake Elsinore are now being followed by private sector investment in the city, Magee said.

"It's something we've been preaching for years," the mayor said.

A Starbucks is located across the street inside the Albertsons supermarket. A similar setup can be found in Wildomar's Oak Creek Center on Clinton Keith Road, where a Starbucks is inside an Albertsons and a stand-alone shop is across the parking lot.