New Starbucks Location Set To Open Near Lake Shore Campus

A new Starbucks location is opening on North Sheridan Road under the Hampton Inn at Loyola Station. While the store plans on opening this fall, an official date for the opening hasn’t been announced.

The storefront, located at 6576 N. Sheridan Rd., sits across the street from Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus. The space was previously occupied by tea chain Argo Tea. 

The new store’s announcement comes as the company is set to close their location further North from campus at 6738 N. Sheridan Rd. The store is expected to employ around 20 staff members, most of which will be employees from the closing location, according to a Starbucks spokesperson. 

There are two other Starbucks a block away from the new store: one a drive-thru location at 6350 N. Broadway and the other in the Target on 6418 N. Sheridan Rd. Both are about a two minute walk from campus. There are also quick service locations on the Lake Shore campus serving Starbucks coffee, where students can use their meal plan to pay. 

While there isn’t an official opening date, a spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to meeting customer needs in convenient locations. 

Third-year Karla Galindo-Marquez said she thinks Starbucks locations can offer students a convenient spot to grab a quick coffee between closes, or a place to study with friends.

Galindo-Marquez, a neuroscience major, who said she goes to Starbucks once every couple of weeks, was concerned about the opening of another Starbucks. She said it seems unnecessary given the locations already serving Starbucks coffee near campus.

“Don’t think Starbucks is much more different than any other coffee shop, its coffee is a brand,” Galindo-Marquez said, “They give you the same cup, you get the same ingredients everywhere. If I want a chamomile, I could go to my mom’s cupboard, get a camomile, and make myself one.” 

Second-year biology major Lauren Banta shared similar views with Galindo-Marquez and emphasized convenience, as Starbucks remains open for longer hours throughout the day. 

Banta said since her preferred coffee shop opens later in the day, her next option is to turn to Starbucks. 

“The thing with Starbucks is it’s easy,” Banta said. “You’re comfortable with it. You’ve been there a lot of times.”

However, Galindo-Marquez said she would choose Starbucks over coffee at home because the location is convenient.

“If there were a Dunkin’ Donuts closer to my classes, I’d probably go there instead,” Galindo-Marquez said. 

Banta accredited gift cards from friends and family for funding her typical visits, as buying coffee has become expensive. A 16 oz medium roast coffee at Starbucks is $3.65, whereas Keurig’s coffee pods are 57 cents each. 

She said when she does go to Starbucks, she often goes in the early morning to study. However, she prefers to go to more local shops, like Metropolis Coffee Company on West Granville and Varietale Bagels & Coffee on North Broadway.

The arrival of a new Starbucks has also sparked concern among local independent businesses. Joey Figueroa, manager at Metropolis, acknowledged the competitive environment of being an independent coffee shop in Chicago, especially regarding accessibility. 

“I’m just trying to remember what it was like when I was a student,” Figueroa said. “Starbucks is going to be the convenience spot.”

However, he said he was confident Metropolis will retain its loyal customers including residents and students despite the presence of a new location. 

“We really pride ourselves in being a community hub for students,” Figueroa said. “Every year, it’s enjoyable to see the new freshman class that I can possibly see the next four years in college.”

The challenges are even more pronounced for newer businesses like Khmai Fine Dining, according to the restaurant’s Executive Chef Mona Sang.

She said Khmai was forced to close temporarily Aug. 14 due to the construction of the Starbucks. Sang reported she lost thousands of dollars worth of food because of debris and dust from the construction site, which set the restaurant back significantly. 

 “Dust and everything filled up the whole restaurant from top to bottom to the point where it wasn’t breathable in here,” Sang said. 

Sang said Khmai had to undertake its own renovations to address the damage caused by the ongoing construction, which started around Aug. 13. That week, she said she canceled and refunded 500 reservations and lost “thousands” of dollars. 

Khmai re-opened Sept. 18 and will be serving dinner and drinks Wednesday through Sunday, according to an announcement by Loyola’s Office of Neighborhood Initiatives. 

Sang said she remains hopeful and feels like the neighborhood has always been known for its diversity and support for local businesses.

“I’ve always loved Rogers Park and the community,” Sang said.