CRESTVIEW — Java drinkers are searching for new venues to get their caffeine fixes while Starbucks remains closed more than a week after a mishap damaged the building.
A U-Haul truck driver misjudged the rental vehicle’s height and smashed into the coffee shop’s north entrance awning, ripping it from the building.
Following the Sept. 16 incident, a handmade sign propped at the barricaded entrances stated Starbucks was “closed for the weekend.”
However, a Starbucks employee, who was not authorized to speak to the media and requested anonymity, said during the subsequent temporary repair, including putting a blue tarp over part of the north façade, it was discovered the damage was greater than expected.
“When they assessed the damage, they found structural damage to the building and it has to be fixed before any of us are allowed back in,” the employee stated in an email.
The business will likely be closed for at least a month while repairs are made, the employee said.
“Our store is temporarily closed as we make minor renovations to the exterior awning following this incident,” Starbucks corporate Media Relations stated. “The safety of our stores is our top priority and we are grateful no one was injured.”
Callers to the Crestview Starbucks’ phone number are greeted with a message saying, “We are currently closed for renovations and will be open again soon.”
Meanwhile, coffee drinkers are discovering alternative venues, including the downtown Casbah Coffee Company, where co-owner Bill Toannon said he’s caught some good-natured ribbing from customers.
“People joke with me and say, ‘Did you rent a U-Haul truck the other night?’” Toannon said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Starbucks expected to re-open in a month