Starbucks-addicted commuters could soon have a new drive-thru for quick caffeine fill ups on East Mill Plain Boulevard, less than five blocks west of PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
Plans submitted to Vancouver’s planning department would convert a vacant KFC restaurant at 8302 E. Mill Plain Blvd. into a Starbucks restaurant with a drive-up window. The site is owned by the local KFC chain, Dickinson Northwest Inc., which closed the KFC restaurant in August 2011 because of difficult economic conditions. The restaurant, which was built in 1979, and its the half-acre site are now listed for sale, said Scott Dickinson, owner of the chain.
He said the site is accessible to traffic moving in either direction on Mill Plain, which does not have a median barrier along that stretch. Starbucks currently operates a coffee shop without drive-up access in the Garrison Square shopping complex at 8070 E. Mill Plain Blvd.
The Seattle-based company also operates a store with drive-up service at 11502 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., on the north side of the street, and a store just five blocks east of that one at 12101 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. on the south side of street.
