New Starbucks Planned In Worcester Near Webster Square

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Planning Board on Wednesday will review plans for a proposed new Starbucks in the Webster Square area — what would be the Seattle-based chain's fourth standalone location in the city.

The Springfield-based owner of a series of parcels near the corner of Heard and Stafford streets — the current location of a CVS — wants to use an empty parcel at 105 Stafford St. to build the new Starbucks, which would feature a drive-thru.

The Starbucks would occupy a new 2,400 square-foot building alongside the CVS. The existing CVS driveway along Heard Street would be closed with a new entrance to be built through a vacant triangular parcel closer to Stafford Street, according to plans.

The planning board will conduct a site plan review at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

Starbucks operates standalone stores along East Central Street, Grove Street and the newest location along Grafton Street across from the Stop & Shop plaza.

The East Central Street location was one of four Starbucks in Massachusetts to vote to organize a union in 2022. The store joined cafés in Brookline, Westford and Boston in the labor effort, part of a wave of union approvals that the coffee chain sought to stamp out.