West Orange Is Buzzing About New Starbucks At Essex Green

WEST ORANGE, NJ — An internet buzz is building around Starbucks and a highly anticipated new location at the Essex Green Shopping Center in West Orange.

Last week, West Orange posted a tongue-in-cheek social media message. The caption read: “Welcome to WO,” and included a star and a money icon – an apparent reference to a certain ubiquitous coffee corporation.

According to the shopping center’s website, a Starbucks is coming to Essex Green, located at 495 Prospect Avenue.

The company’s website has a listing for a local Starbucks in building H at 495 Prospect Avenue. According to the site, the store has a drive-thru and mobile order and pay.

The company’s website also shows two job postings at the West Orange location; one for shift supervisor and one for barista.

The location has picked up two Yelp reviews as of Tuesday:

• “This Starbucks just opened and I'm guessing they're only taking orders through the drive thru. It would have been nice if there was a sign saying that because I drive a truck that won't fit through the drive thru and when I tried to go inside to order an employee ran to the door before I could open it and locked it ... Then she just stared at me for a second and turned and walked away.”
• “Hey it's Starbucks it can't be that bad! Newly opened Starbucks in the newly renovated Essex Green shopping center. I got a green tea. No complaints!”

In the township’s social media post, a time of 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. is listed, similar to those on the Yelp profile. Hours on the Essex Green website are different, however, with an opening time of 10:30 a.m. and closing times varying from 10 to 11 p.m. And the hours on the Starbucks website are also different: 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Several Twitter users have been posting questions and comments about the West Orange Starbucks. Seen online:

• “They just opened up Starbucks by my job in West Orange … what should I try? Never had it before.”
• “West Orange Starbucks just opened … I’m bout to be broke.”
• “Is the Starbucks in West Orange open?”

Patch has reached out to Starbucks for information about the current status of the West Orange location. We’ll update this article with any reply we receive.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page.