It’s out with the old and in with the new in Buffalo Township.
A former Kings Family Restaurant in Buffalo Plaza along Route 356 has undergone sweeping renovations since January to make way for a new Starbucks and two additional businesses, all under one roof.
“It’s better than an empty Kings building, and we’re happy that they’re coming in here,” Township Manager Rich Hill said Tuesday of the three new businesses opening soon in the township of about 7,900 residents.
Buffalo Plaza owner Anthony Pompeo confirmed in January that three new businesses, including the Starbucks, would occupy the renovated space.
Construction crews have been working inside the building, at 400 Buffalo Plaza, which features the Starbucks in the front section and the two additional stores in the rear.
“Starbucks is always looking for great locations to better meet the needs of our customers, and we are happy to confirm that we will be opening a new location at 400 Buffalo Plaza … during the winter of 2023,” a Starbucks spokesperson said Tuesday.
One of the other businesses in the building will be an authentic Italian sandwich shop, Toasted Amo, owned by Andrea “Tony” Coppola of Tony’s Pizza Cafe in nearby South Pike Square.
It’s unclear what the third business will be, but Coppola believes it to be medical-related.
Hill said the township has completed its obligations to the project, and all building inspections are being handled through Code.sys, a third-party inspection company.
Brian Pope of Shamrock Development said Monday the project is expected to be completed in early December, and Starbucks should open that month.
The Starbucks will feature a drive-thru window and an outdoor patio facing Route 356.
It is expected to employ about 25.
“That corridor is getting some traffic,” Hill said. “New stores can bring (more) new stores.”
Coppola said the buzz around the new building has been constant.
“I like that it’s in the Starbucks building. That will bring a lot of customer traffic,” Coppola said. “People are excited. They ask me all the time about it.”
Coppola hopes to open Toasted Amo early next year, serving authentic signature Italian specialty sandwiches that will be toasted and healthy smoothies.
“I’m going to open the most unique sandwich shop around,” Coppola said.
