Starbucks Has a New Location Brewing on Piedmont Avenue

Coffee company planning new intown location.

A new Starbucks Coffee location is being proposed on Piedmont Avenue across from the new Modera Morningside apartments and Sprouts Farmers Market.  The new Starbucks would open in place of Saigon Basil, a local Thai & Vietnamese restaurant.

The 1,700 square foot building at 1870 Piedmont Avenue dates from 1956 and was originally built as a First Federal Savings bank branch.  Ironically, Starbucks already operates out of another former First Federal Savings branch of similar aesthetic on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.  

Sandy Springs Starbucks courtesy of "Remembering Sandy Springs"

Over the years, the Piedmont Avenue building has been a number of things, including an Einstein Bros. Bagels shortly before opening as Saigon Basil.  

Not far from the would-be Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, a rival of the coffee powerhouse, opened a new location in a renovated Burger King in 2012. 

First Federal Savings courtesy of  "Atlanta Time Machine"

As a fan of unique architecture and saving old buildings, I for one hope Starbucks intends to strip away the crappy covering over the stone wedge in the middle of the building.  Doing so would not only match it to the Sandy Springs location but would give the building back the character it has been lacking.  

Starbucks is also planning to renovate the former Wendy's on Peachtree Road in Brookwood Hills.  

Are you excited about the possibility of another Starbucks in the neighborhood?  Are you like me hoping the coffee company strips away the faux covering over the stone facade?  Are you old enough to have banked at First Federal Savings?

Please share your thoughts below.