Starbucks Set to Open First Wantagh Store

Starbucks, the largest coffeehouse company in the world, will soon be opening its first Wantagh store just up the road from MacArthur High School.

The international coffeehouse chain founded in 1971 is opening up shop where Dunkin Donuts was formerly housed in Willow Wood Shops on 1143 Wantagh Ave., less than a mile from MacArthur and Salk Middle School.

Starbucks has signed a 25-year lease at the Wantagh shopping center, according to Wilbur Breslin, president and Chief Executive Officer of Garden City-based Breslin Realty, which owns Willow Wood Shops. Breslin said he expects Starbucks to open its new Wantagh business next to Astoria Federal Savings Loan in January.

Wantagh Chamber of Commerce president Christopher Brown said he is excited to have a Starbucks opening up in Wantagh for the first time. Brown said Wantagh came close to obtaining a Starbucks a few years ago when the Seattle-based company nearly opened a store affiliated with Capital One Bank on Sunrise Highway before the deal fell through.

The closest current Starbucks locations to Wantagh are on 4301 Merrick Road, Massapequa, , and 2015 Merrick Road, Merrick.

"It should be a nice addition to the area," said Brown.

Starbucks did not respond to a media inquiry seeking comment on its new Wantagh location. There are currently more than 17,000 Starbucks stores in 57 countries.