Starbucks is moving into one of the busiest stretches of Schenectady. The city’s planning commission just approved plans for a new 2,200-square-foot café with a drive-thru at 1100 Erie Boulevard.

The site has been vacant for years. It sits across from First Prize Mike’s and Stewart’s. It was purchased by Electric Erie Development back in 2019.

According to the Albany Business Review , developer Fabio Urbano has been trying to get this project through since 2021. It took three trips to the zoning board before the plan finally stuck.

The sticking point was the drive-thru. That use wasn’t originally allowed, but the project was eventually reclassified as a fast food restaurant this spring. That cleared the way for the planning commission’s unanimous approval.

Neighbors aren’t all on boa

See Full Page