How Would Highland Park’s First Drive-Thru Starbucks Impact the Community?

The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council has scheduled an information session at its board meeting on Thursday to discuss the possibility of the neighborhood’s first Starbucks store at a prominent crossing and its impact on the community.

The proposed Starbucks—a drive-thru—would be located at 6240 York Blvd., just east of the Figueroa Street crossing and a two-minute walk from the Highland Park Senior Citizen Center. The property currently houses Classic Burger, which faces a 99 Cents store across the street and has a Jack in the Box adjacent to it.

Members of the public are invited to the information session, which will be on the HHPNC’s agenda for the May 16 meeting scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Highland Park Senior Citizen Center.

Daniel Mellinkoff, the owner of the 6240 York Blvd. property, will be on hand to talk about the proposed Starbucks as well as answer questions.

Mellinkoff told Highland Park-Mt. Washington Patch Monday that he has been having discussions with Starbucks Corporation about taking over the Classic Burger location.

“Nothing has been finalized,” he emphasized, but the idea is that if the project goes through, Starbucks would have a long-term lease on the 12,000-square-foot lot and 1,500-square-foot building.

“If it happens, [the project] will have a drive-thru component, but it will not principally be a drive-thru,” Mellinkoff said, adding that he has submitted a conditional use permit with the City of Los Angeles for a drive-thru.

The nearest Starbucks drive-thru is on 4430 York Blvd., near the Eagle Rock Boulevard crossing, about 2.2 miles west.

The plan is to enhance the front of the proposed Starbucks store to give it a more appealing look, Mellinkoff said.

“My personal hope is that it will become a hub for the neighborhood—for art walks—and some sort of mural and bike racks will be incorporated into the site,” said Mellinkoff, a real estate investor in Old Town Pasadena and other areas of Los Angeles. “Hopefully, we’ll get the support of the neighborhood—some encouragement and excitement.”

His family has owned the property on 6240 York Blvd. since the 1930s, Mellinkoff said, adding that it was once the site for a Pioneer Chicken fast food store.

“At one point, some of my family members wanted to sell the property and I encouraged them not to,” Mellinkoff said. “I told them that this is an upcoming area—and it has turned out to be that.”