TOMS RIVER: The Toms River Township planning board approved an application to convert the old Bank of America into a Starbucks. This new location will feature a drive through, and is on the corner of Hooper @ Oak next to Red Lobster. Bank of America closed this branch sometime in 2019, and it has sat vacant ever since for sale. Recently the property was last sold for only $860,000 on 01/14/2019 to a property developer.

Building when it operated as a BOA branch

Township Planner David Roberts confirmed to Toms River Shorebeat that the board approved the application at its meeting Wednesday night. The owner, 1290 Hooper Avenue LLC, applied for variance relief on several fronts related to the repurposing of the building. The Starbucks will be 2,430 square feet in area and will feature a drive-through lane.

Luckily the property was already zoned commercial, and only minor variances needed approval. Starbucks is expanding into Ocean County finally, and this will be the latest push into our area. Starbucks currently operates Toms River outlets inside the Ocean County Mall, inside Target, inside Stop & Shop on NJ 37, and a free-standing store at Tri-City Plaza. The Tri-City Plaza location replaced an Arby’s that closed near the border of Lakewood on US 9 @ NJ 70.

Sbux under construction in Brick, NJ (09/2020)

When the new Starbucks opens at this location, it will be the third location within a mile radius for Toms River. Patrons whom crave coffee can get it at the new drive-through store being built, inside Target now, or at the mall. Brick is also close to getting a new Starbucks as pictured above at Bay Harbor Plaza by Burlington. Oh, and Lacey- we didn’t forget about you, and neither did Sbux. Lacey is also planned to get a new coffee house on Lacey Road @ Manchester where the vacant Wells Fargo is now.

Either way- people will complain about Starbucks coffee, the company, how Dunkin’ is better, or whether the sun is yellow enough. At the very least, a new business paying taxes and employing our residents isn’t a bad thing. Plus that old bank is an eyesore, and a new fancy Starbucks will visually enhance this dilapidated corner.

For all the details and other technical aspects, please click this link below to Toms River Shorebeat. They broke this story fresh from the council meeting they attended this week! Click for Original Story by Toms River Shorebeat

Starbucks inside Toms River Target: About a week from Grand Opening!
Marty welcomes thirsty patrons to the Starbucks inside Stop & Shop on NJ 37!
Starbucks on NJ 70 in Lakewood, near Hilton Garden Inn