FORT MYERS, Fla. — Fort Myers City Council has moved a proposal forward that would bring a “drive-thru only” Starbucks to the Walmart shopping center off Colonial Boulevard.
Plans for a new Starbucks within the plaza off Colonial Boulevard have been met with strong opposition from local residents.
They are concerned about the potential exacerbation of traffic issues already plaguing the area due to the Chick-fil-A located next to the proposed project site. The recent construction of another Starbucks less than a mile down the road has left many questioning the necessity of adding yet another branch so close.
The snaking lines of vehicles waiting for their fast food fix have already led to bottlenecks and delays along Colonial Boulevard and inside the plaza.
Lisa Rice expressed her concerns while stuck in the traffic. When asked how the new Starbucks would affect traffic, she said, “It’s just going to create twice the traffic.”
Kourtney Negri, also stuck in the traffic, said, “I just don’t think it would work. It’s already a lot of traffic with the Chick-fil-A here.”
Negri was surprised to even hear that city council members would consider a Starbucks here since a new one recently opened less than a mile away.
“And that one across the street was just built as well, so I don’t think there’s a need to build another one around in this area,” Negri said.
The City of Fort Myers hasn’t finalized this project. City council will hold an open hearing about this new proposed Starbucks on September 18, 2023.
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