Construction of a new Starbucks coffee shop at the southwest corner Indiana Avenue and Hamilton Street, just north of Gonzaga University, is expected to start late this month or early next month.

The Starbucks is planned to be built at 1821 N. Hamilton, about a half-mile from the site of a former Starbucks that shared parking space with the former Wolffy’s Hamburger’s at 1229 N. Hamilton.

“We’re still awaiting a permit, but there’s a likely start (to construction) at the end of the month,” says Brandon Smith, vice president and co-owner of Spokane-based Associated Construction Inc., the project’s general contractor.

The project’s construction value is estimated at $700,000. Smith expects the store to open in early August.

Mercier Architecture & Planning, of Spokane Valley, is the project architect, and Störhaug Engineering Inc. is providing engineering services.

The Spokane County Assessor’s office lists the owner of the property as Just Ask George LLC, which according to the Washington State Department of Revenue is governed by Mark Mackin and George Renner.

The location most recently served as home to a Tire Rama tire and auto service shop. After the company decided to relocate at the end of its lease, the vacated building was demolished to make way for the coffee stand, Smith says.

Chad Carper, of Spokane-based commercial real estate company Kiemle Hagood, helped to broker the transaction between the property owner and Starbucks, Smith says.

The 950-square-foot Starbucks will offer drive-thru service and also will have a walk-up window. The decision to not offer dine-in experience had nothing to do with COVID-19, he says.

“The site was a little bit small, and based on the city’s approach requirements, it was determined there wasn’t enough room to perform all of the typical full-service functions,” he says.

Smith says he’s performed site and construction work on at least five dozen Starbucks stores in Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and eastern Oregon.