It has been seven years since Starbucks first talked about opening a Community Store in Philadelphia, and the mega coffee franchise is preparing to finally launch one this year, writes Meir Rinde for Billy Penn at WHYY.

The shop will open somewhere in North Philadelphia.

Discussions about opening a community store first began in 2017, and a West Philadelphia location was confirmed the next year.

In 2019, the neighborhood association in West Philly’s Parkside neighborhood revealed that Starbucks would open the shop in the ParkWest Town Center shopping plaza within two years.

At the time, Councilman Curtis Jones noted that it would be an economic boost and a sign that the neighborhood was on the upswing.

However, the plan fell through and the store never materialized.

Community stores differ from typical cafes as they focus on using local firms for construction and supplies, especially those owned by women and people or color, hire and train local young people as staff, partner with area nonprofits, and have space in the store for community events. 

The community store program started as a pilot in 2011 in Los Angeles and Harlem, and has since expanded to more than a dozen other cities.

Read more about the timeline of the new Starbucks community store coming to North Philly in Billy Penn at WHYY.

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