STARBUCKS is understood to be opening a new store in the heart of Stroud.

The SNJ understands the global coffee chain is poised to create a new shop at the top of Merrywalks Shopping Centre.

The two-storey shop would be created just off King Street in the buildings currently occupied by Thompsons and the pop up shop Toto – opposite WHS Smiths.

It is thought Starbucks would knock down the partitioning wall to create one large store, just metres from the town’s latest addition, Coffee#1.

If built, it would be one of 15 coffee shops in the town centre.

A planning application to create a business that sells hot food and drinks was approved by Stroud District Council in January this year.

It cannot yet be confirmed whether this application is on behalf of the American coffee company. The approval does not specify an end user.

But the SNJ has spoken to business owners in Merrywalks who say they have been told it will be a Starbucks.

Joe Lister, 28, co-founder of the pop-up shop Toto which currently occupying the site said he’d been told Starbucks would be starting work there “very soon”.

“We have been told it will be Starbucks. We are due to move out on Saturday. They should be moving in pretty much straight after us.

“I was told they’d be using the upstairs too and knocking through to the travel agents.

“I never saw any planning applications of information. Not many people seem to actually know. It seems like it’s been done on the sly.

“Personally I don’t want to see another coffee chain. It’s not like Stroud doesn’t have enough already.”

The SNJ approached the centre manager of Merrywalks Ray Davis to confirm the rumours.

But he said: “There is nothing to confirm at this moment.”

In addition, the planning application includes details for aluminium windows and stone exterior – similar to that of the coffee chain’s other shops.

The plans include two entrances; one from King Street and another from inside the covered shopping centre.

The business will be open from 7am – 7pm all week.

The franchise’s rival Costa sits just 160 metres away top of the High Street.

And newcomer to the area Coffee#1 is directly across the street.

Starbucks did not respond when the SNJ approached it to comment.

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