CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - A spell of rainy weather last week didn’t deter Starbucks regular customers from checking out the grand opening of a new drive-thru coffee shop in the Sunrise Village Plaza at 7887 Madison Avenue at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard on Thursday morning, April 14.

The coffee shop relocated from the Quail Pointe Shopping Center on Madison Avenue. Starbucks is the first new tenant in a new 5,500-square-foot commercial building, built by Level 5 Builders, who are based in Folsom. The building will also welcome a new Firehouse Subs next door later this summer.

The new Citrus Heights Starbucks, approximately double the size of its former Fair Oaks location, was built on the site of the former Coco’s Bakery near the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue in Citrus Heights.

“We’re excited to be in our new location. The move went smoothly, as we closed for business on Tuesday, April 12 and were ready Thursday morning to welcome our first new customers,” said Starbucks supervisor Danielle Walker. “The white and green trimmed location has a modern, spacious feel, with new interior seating and furnishings throughout. Outside patio seating is now also available.”

Staff members were training in the operation of the new drive-thru which wraps around the building from Madison Avenue. Earlier this spring, JoAnne’s Fabrics and Crafts completed its move into its new location as part of the first phase of a $15-20 million remodel and expansion project for the center, which is owned by the San Francisco-based Merlone-Geier investment company.

Next to the new JoAnne’s will be a planned 50,000-square foot sports club, owned by an Irvine-based corporation which operates the LA Fitness chain of health clubs.

The 20,000-square-foot commercial space between the existing Rite Aid pharmacy and the new City Sports Club is shown on current construction plans as either a Home Goods or grocery store, but an official tenant has yet to be named by the developer.

In the next phase of the construction project, the former Lyon’s restaurant which is also located in the Sunrise Village Plaza will be demolished, said Kevin Meyer, president of Level 5 Builders, who provided a recent project update.

The Citrus Heights City Council approved plans to renovate Sunrise Village Plaza in February 2020. The project owner-developer, Merlone-Geier is completing the overall project in scheduled phases over several years. New signage and landscaping are featured in the overall design.

In all, the redevelopment project, when complete, will add 18,000 square feet to the existing 150,000-plus square foot retail plaza, according to a Merlone-Geier project brochure.