Just a few weeks after ground was broken for the second retail building at White Oaks in Bridgeport, an official who is among those responsible for the sprawling development has announced their first tenant. And it’s a national brand that most everyone is familiar with.

 

According to Ron Stanley, the managing member of High Tech Corridor Development that manages White Oaks, a lease agreement with Starbucks has been finalized. The business will go into the building that is labeled White Oaks Retail Village Building 2 that recently had a building permit filed on it.

 

In fact, the permit for the building that will house Starbucks was issued Sept. 26. That came a little more than a week after a grading permit was issues on Sept. 18, according to Bridgeport Community Development Director Randy Spellman.

 

The building permit is for $884,320 and is for the building mentioned above. The grading permit is for $508,275, bringing the total for the project close to $1.4 million.

 

"We are very happy that Starbucks has decided to expand their operations in Bridgeport to White Oaks. They are great compliment to the businesses already operating in the park."

 

Stanley said a definitive time frame for its opening isn’t set. However, he said June or July of 2018 is the current target area.

 

The new retail building will be a one-story structure covering 8,749 square feet. Starbucks will occupy 2,200 square feet. Stanley added that two or three more businesses could occupy the structure that will be located on Sweet Brier Lane and is being built by Lee Reger Builds out of Shinnston.

 

So who else is coming?

 

“We are talking to several groups right now. There’s nothing firm at this point as to who may come as we’re not into anything serious on a new lease situation, but we do have interested parties,” said Stanley.

 

Before construction of the building takes place, the grading work has to be completed. Cove Run Contracting out of Morgantown is handling that work. Once that work is done and the infrastructure is in place, the shell of the building will see a start.

 

This will be Starbucks second location in Harrison County. The company currently has a location at Eastpointe on Emily Drive.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is a sign of the existing retail village sign, while earth work begins on the second building site below.