Starbucks opens New Kensington cafe early

It turns out even Starbucks couldn’t wait for its New Kensington cafe to open.

After first saying the store built in Riverview Plaza on Tarentum Bridge Road would open Feb. 25, it actually opened Friday — Valentine’s Day.

”The anticipated opening date for this location was Feb. 25; however, the decision was made to open on Feb. 14 following the early completion of construction,” a Starbucks spokesperson said.

It will employ 20 to 30 people, the spokesperson said. The freestanding building includes a drive-thru window.

Starbucks follows the January opening of Harbor Freight and the opening of Aldi nearly two years ago in the ongoing redevelopment of Riverview Plaza. The strip shopping center’s rebirth comes after the 2019 closing and 2021 demolition of the longstanding Kmart there.

A Dollar Tree opened in the plaza in 2023.

A Wingstop restaurant has been built adjacent to a Dollar Tree discount store. No information on its opening was available. Representatives of the company and franchisee have not responded to requests for comment.

New Kensington isn’t the only Alle-Kiski Valley community getting a new Starbucks. A similar building is under construction at Hyde Park Plaza in Allegheny Township. Another Starbucks opened in Buffalo Township in late 2023.

New Kensington officials reviewed and approved plans for Starbucks and Harbor Freight about a year ago.

A Starbucks kiosk is located in the nearby Giant Eagle. A Giant Eagle spokesman said the new cafe will not impact it — Giant Eagle is a licensee and operates its in-store Starbucks locations with its employees following Starbucks procedures and guidelines.

Other development on Tarentum Bridge Road includes approval for a Valvoline Instant Oil Change in front of the Quality Inn between Shamey’s Gas Station and the entrance to Giant Eagle. Trees were recently removed from the site and a fence was installed, but construction has yet to begin.