Starbucks Opening at Target in Riverhead

Another Starbucks is opening in Riverhead, but you won’t be able to see this one from the road.

Come November, shoppers at the popular Target superstore (1150 Old Country Road) in Riverhead will able to enjoy a grande soy-caramel macchiato in between trips down the aisles. The big box giant closed what had been its decidedly weak snack bar last month and put up a sign, quietly announcing that Starbucks would soon replace it.

Of course the move is hardly groundbreaking, considering Target began a licensing partnership with Starbucks—just as Walmart partnered McDonald’s—officially in 2002 and has since opened more than 1,000 Starbucks cafes in its stores. But Riverhead had remained a holdout, instead choosing to serve sub-par pizza, hot dogs, basic fruit, soft drinks and packaged snacks at its existing cafeteria. So, this is good news for anyone who frequents the department store, including many Hamptonites who enjoy the savings there—though it’s possible those savings may now be squandered on a bevy of creative coffee concoctions.

A manager, Erin, at Target in Riverhead confirmed that Starbucks would indeed be opening in November, but she would not give a specific date—clearly the space will require a serious aesthetic overhaul before a barista can step behind the counter. And if Target is still going according to the original business plan, its own employees will work in the new cafe and Starbucks will simply enjoy a share of the profits. Along with other positions, the store is already advertising its available Starbucks jobs in online want ads.

Construction has yet to begin, but the change will probably happen quickly once work is underway.