Starbucks is in the midst of expanding its presence in Ocala with construction of its eighth location, which is its first in the northeast part of the city in nearly 15 years.
The new coffee shop is under construction at 3727 East Silver Springs Boulevard, next to the Wawa that opened in April 2019.
Starbucks posted job solicitations for baristas and managers at the new location in March.
No additional information is available as to the opening date of the new location.
Although the new store will expand the company’s presence in the east side of the city, it is technically not the first Starbucks in northeast Ocala.
That distinction belonged to a Starbucks formerly located at 4905 E Silver Springs Boulevard, in the current location of Firehouse Subs. That location closed in 2009.
Now, most of Ocala’s Starbucks locations are situated along the city’s most popular thoroughfare, with stops at 2000 SW College Road (Target), 2710 SW College Road, 3100 SW College Road (Paddock Mall), 4602 SW College Road, and 7819 SW College Road.
In 2021, Starbucks opened a location in southeast Ocala at 3537 SE Maricamp Road.
Currently, there are over 38,000 Starbucks locations across the world and around 782 in the state of Florida.
The new Starbucks in east Ocala will join several other coffee franchises that expanded their footprints in the city and county as of late.
Red Owl Coffee Company, a Georgia-based drive-thru coffee chain, has announced plans to expand into Ocala.
Biggby Coffee opened a new location in southwest Ocala in March.
OLA Coffee Drive-Thru has opened two locations in Ocala in the past year.
Ellianos Coffee recently opened its first location in Marion County in Belleview. Another location is under construction in Dunnellon, with an additional location planned for Ocala.
Symmetry Coffee and The Gathering Cafe both moved into new digs in downtown Ocala over the past year.
What other coffee chains or cafes would you like to see come to Ocala? Share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.
UPDATE: An earlier