Starbucks site looks set to become offices
HOPES or fears that Starbucks would be coming to Guernsey have been firmly dashed, with the building lined up for the American coffee chain now set to be turned into office space.
The Rotunda, behind the Royal Terrace development, has stood empty for years and a local estate agent has been trying to find a tenant since early 2009.
The change of use planning application for the site came from Jubilee Scheme 2 LP – part of the Long Port Group, which went into liquidation last year.
The company's planning and development director Paul Jarvis said a specialist catering letting agency had begun trying to let the business in 2010.
'Unfortunately, despite viewings from operators based in the United Kingdom, Guernsey and Jersey, there have been no firm offers on the premises,' he said in the planning application.
'The most recent interest was for a Starbucks concession, granted to i2 Serviced Offices to operate a Starbucks-branded cafe, if i2 considered they could deliver the required returns. Clearly not only did i2 Serviced Offices feel that a Starbucks was unviable, the most recent events have proved that even their own serviced office accommodation was not viable in St Peter Port.'
