A Starbucks is nearly completed at the new Lemon Valley Retail Center located off Valley and Lemon. (Photo By Raymond Mendoza)
By K.P. Sander
Walnut – The Lemon Valley Retail Center, located at 20373 Valley Boulevard in Walnut, and home of the new Starbucks Coffee Drive-Thru, is nearly finished. The 7,390 square foot, two-story building, which was approved for construction by the Walnut Planning Commission in February of 2012, will include space for an additional restaurant on the first floor, and one to two office suites on the second floor.
The 24,400 square foot lot, located on the northwest corner of Valley Boulevard and Lemon Avenue, was initially developed back in 1965. It was the site of a gas service station, which was demolished in 1995.
To ensure safety for future development, the property went through an environmental remediation from 1995 through 2010. According to the Walnut Planning Commission Minutes from January 18, 2012, the property owner has obtained the appropriate documentation from Los Angeles County certifying that the lot was properly abated of any environmental impacts resulting from the prior gas service station use, and was cleared for future development. Construction was slowed earlier this year pending approval of the drive-thru lane.
Positioning on the property, appropriate access to the main streets, and the affects the vehicle queue would have on traffic and parking for other businesses in the center all had to be finalized. The City of Walnut Building Department states that Starbucks is the only confirmed business at this time. The popular quick-service restaurant, Taco Factory, is rumored to become part of the center, but verification has not yet been provided.
Despite which business options plan to join the coffee house, the Lemon Valley Retail Center is a welcome addition to the City of Walnut. Starbucks is planning on opening for business on September 24, 2013. Pumpkin Spice Latte, anyone?
