Starbucks Opening New Location In Mendham Borough

MENDHAM, NJ — Another coffee chain giant is coming to Mendham Borough.

In the last week, a sign has gone up at the former Pet Valu shop, located in the shopping center on East Main Street, notifying the public that a Starbucks is coming in its place.

Pet Valu closed down in Mendham Borough in 2020 after the company "commenced a wind down of its operations due to severe impact from COVID-19."

According to Lisa Smith, the Planning and Land Use Coordinator, V-Fee Realty Investment submitted a Change of Use/ Occupancy application that was ultimately approved by the borough's zoning officer and engineer.

The news of the new coffee chain comes only two months after the anticipated Dunkin' on Main Street opened its doors to the Mendham community after years of planning.

The coffee shop, which has been described as a "next-generation Dunkin' restaurant," was first approved for 25 East Main Street in December 2018, following initial public objections to the commercial business.

The store, which opened in late August, was specifically designed to be historically consistent with the borough's standards, something that Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner and other residents said was very important to the community.

Since the announcement of the Starbucks location, residents have voiced concerns about the addition of another commercial business in the borough. "And the floodgates are open! McDonalds and White Castle are next," one resident wrote on Facebook.

There is no official word on an opening date or timeline for the new Starbucks, but the sign says "coming soon."

Starbucks did not respond to Patch's request for a comment on the new location.