Plans for Starbucks in Lawrenceville prompts outcry from community group
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A new Starbucks is supposedly coming to Lawrenceville and people are not thrilled. They feel the developer went back on their word to keep the commercial space local. The concern for Lawrenceville United and some business owners is it could drive up rent and drive some businesses out of the neighborhood.
Lawrenceville over the past couple decades has built itself as a place for local flavor and shopping.
"We all take pride in our product. You knock on our door, you can see the owner," said Richard Rattner, owner of the William Penn Tavern.
Rattner moved his establishment to the neighborhood a couple years ago after he saw so many chains move into Shadyside.
He has a fear this news about Starbucks could be history repeating itself. The last thing he wants to see is Butler Street lose its identity.
"It's Pittsburghers serving Pittsburghers, not a corporation coming in and doing what they want to do," Rattner said inside his restaurant on Butler Street.
The Starbucks is proposed to be in the Arsenal 201 building down the block from 40th and Butler. According to the neighborhood group of Lawrenceville United, Milhaus told them after community meetings that it would be a local business moving in.
"To have a national mega chain coming in and directly competing with that? It hurts," Lawrenceville United Executive Director Dave Breingan said.
He added they don't want this to be the beginning of a snowball of chains moving in. Much of the business district is tight-knit and they don't want to see that feeling of community be driven out.
"Retaining the local, independent nature of our business district which has been cultivated and growing over the last 20 years," Breingan said.
The last thing they want is rent going up for the businesses. It could drive out people who have invested in the area.
"Are we competing against another Pittsburgher or am I competing against a national bar from Chicago, New York, LA," Rattner questioned.
A spokesperson for Starbucks issued a statement, noting that the space has been empty since before the pandemic.
"We look forward to joining and contributing to the Lawrenceville community beginning in fall 2024," the statement read. "It is a thriving community that allows all types of businesses to exist together, and customers will choose the coffee experience that is best for them. We know our customers are passionate about coffee as well as their local businesses, and we believe independent stores and small chains can continue to grow and thrive along with Starbucks. It is all in service of elevating specialty coffee – which is a good thing for everyone.
"Starbucks is committed to being a good neighbor in the Lawrenceville community."
Lawrenceville United said they will be speaking Thursday with Milhaus about all of this.
Milhaus released the following statement on Friday:
"Milhaus has been fortunate to work alongside Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation for almost a decade in bringing Arsenal 201 to life. While we acknowledge the concern about the recent retail announcement, we stand firmly committed to supporting the Lawrenceville community in a pursuit to nurture and grow local businesses. We're happy to continue to play a small part in achieving this goal with over 80% of Arsenal 201's retail space currently occupied by great local businesses like Stride Fitness, Diesel Barbershop and Brooklyn Bagel. Our team has worked diligently over the last seven years to identify high-quality tenants to fill our retail space and we believe that the addition of Starbucks will complement, not detract from the commercial fabric of Lawrenceville. We will continue to work closely with Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation to support their shared vision for fostering a unique and thriving community."