Starbucks opening in Riverside 'any day now'. Jersey Mike's, T-Mobile expected to follow

The world’s largest coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, will open in the coming days at the Tops Plaza in Riverside, eventually sharing the new building with T-Mobile and Jersey Mike’s Subs, according to Riverside Village Mayor Rich Wagar.

Wagar said Starbucks, which was founded in 1971 and offers drinks, food, at home coffee and merchandise, will be a great asset to the village.

The new store will mark the sole Starbucks in Steuben County. The nearest Starbucks locations are in Big Flats and Horseheads.

“It’s going to open any day now,” Wager said. “Tentative employees were at the site the other day, so all things are looking positive. It's very good to see.”

Wagar said a WellNow Urgent Care Walk-in Center was originally expected to fill another portion of the building, but that section of the site will now be filled by T-Mobile. Jersey Mike's Subs is also expected to set up shop in the plaza.

“In between Starbucks and T-Mobile will be Jersey Mike's Subs,” Wagar said. “That news, when the village received it, was a surprise. The developer (of the site) never told us Urgent Care wasn't coming. The first thing that we knew about any changes was when we started getting some requests from other companies that wanted to fill the sites.”

The Riverside Planning Board will vote in early May to approve a proposal from T-Mobile, Wagar said. The board will also review plans from Jersey Mike’s Subs. The food franchise boasts around 2,700 locations as of January 2024, according to its website.

The Riverside location would mark the first Jersey Mike's franchise in Steuben County. A Jersey Mike's is located in Horseheads on County Road 64.

The section of the Tops Plaza that formerly housed a Friendly’s Restaurant was sold over two years ago, Wagar said. Friendly’s Restaurant closed at the site several years ago and the building was razed.

“The new building and these businesses enhance the Village of Riverside,” Wagar said.

More: Corning Inc. fiber factory featured on '60 Minutes' profile of U.S. Commerce Secretary

Dollar General opened a store at a former Rite Aid location nearby at the intersection of Pulteney and Buffalo streets in January.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Starbucks opening in Riverside 'any day now'. Jersey Mike's, T-Mobile expected to follow