New Haven Independent

Moore feels that way even though she works as a shift manager at the Dunkin’ Donuts. If the Dunkin’ Donuts closes, Moore said with a shrug and a smile in between serving customers, there are plenty of other outlets around (like, every few blocks). “I work at the other [Dunkin’ Donuts], too, so I’m not worried. I’d have a job. I make the donuts.”

“Everybody,” Moore added, “loves coffee.”

Nobody knows that better than Starbucks, the Seattle-based chain built on premium caffeine and relaxed, cozy atmosphere. A developer is hoping to bring Starbucks this year to the triangle of asphalt where Whalley and Fountain split off heading west in the heart of Westville Village.

It’s by no means a done deal, according to Alex Marathas, a partner in the firm Site Resource Development. Site Resource has been in negotiations not to buy the land, but to buy out the master leaseholder.

If that deal goes through, Marathas said, his firm would renovate the building into a more Starbucks-like joint. Dunkin’ Donuts’ lease expires in March. At that point, Marathas said, the firm would ask the store to leave, then demolish the northern part of the building to make way for an outdoor seating area by Whalley.

The firm has approached Starbucks about possibly moving into the renovated plaza, as the only tenant, in August.

“We want it to be a centerpiece for the neighborhood. It’s the first building you see going west or north on Whalley Avenue,” said Marathas, whose firm developed the Walgreen’s at Route 80 and Eastern Street and is currently building a CVS- Starbucks- Quizno’s- Blockbuster strip in Waterford.

Welcome Mat

Starbucks’ arrival would fit into the upscaling of Westville Village, including the construction of new artist studio housing and, possibly, the conversion of an empty factory property into 293 apartments for young professionals and empty nesters. The commercial area has thrived on “new urbanist”-style locally owned shops with distinctive local personality, not chains. But the specter of Starbucks seems not to bother many people for two reasons. One: A chain is already there at the plaza. Two: That chain, Dunkin’ Donuts, doesn’t fit that upscale model as well as Starbucks.

“We don’t generally love the corporate side of it. But the fact that a big entity like Starbucks is going make an investment in our neighborhood is exciting,” said John Cavalier. Cavalier is in the process of moving his antiques conservation shop, Lyric-Hall, from Upper State Street to the old Chorney Antiques building a block from the Whalley-Fountain intersection.

The idea of chain competition doesn’t seem to bother the people at the two other upscale coffee shops within a block of the proposed Starbucks, either.

“We’re confident. I don’t think it would do anything. We’re not in competition with Dunkin’ Donuts” now, said Festa of Lena’s (in photo).

“Here people are sitting and relaxing. They’re not on the run,” Fest said. A place like Lena’s builds its clientele not just with coffee, but with atmosphere, with Saturday and Sunday brunches, with live music (Friday nights), with links to arts happenings in the neighborhood.

“It’s not a coffee house. It’s more of a restaurant,” agreed Shanna Diaz, a waitress at Bella Rosa Cafe across the street, explaining why Starbucks doesn’t worry her.

The “Fourbucks” Phenomenon

Not everybody roots for a Dunkin’ Donuts-Starbucks switcheroo. Contractor Max Gutierrez (pictured) of West Haven, for instance, said he’ll drive his truck past the plaza and look for another Dunkin’ Donuts. “I’m happy with Dunkin’ Donuts,” he said. “I like the price.”

Especially, he said, compared to Starbucks’ prices. A recent survey of coffee shops in New Haven showed Dunkin’ Donuts selling a small coffee for $1.30, a small “Dunkaccino/ Vanilla Chai” for $1.58. A small coffee sold for $1.25 at Lena’s, an espresso, $2.00. Small coffee cost $1.50 at Bella Rose, cappuccino and latte, $3.50. Starbucks downtown charged $1.50 for a small coffee, $2.65 for a small cappuccino.