Caffeine is about to get even closer for drivers along North Dale Mabry Highway. Starbucks is putting up a new drive-thru at the former Econo Lodge site at 4732 N. Dale Mabry, roughly a mile north of Raymond James Stadium, with a single-story, 2,533-square-foot store planned for the corner. The layout calls for patio seating, on-site parking and a drive-thru lane that wraps cars around to an order point and pickup window, on a lot where three motel buildings once stood.
Plans and timeline
Construction could wrap up in about four months, according to Housh Ghovaee of Northside Engineering. He told the Tampa Bay Business & Wealth that site drawings call for a 2,533-square-foot building with patio seating, parking and a drive-thru lane that loops vehicles around to an order point and pickup window. Ghovaee, listed as the project's engineer, said crews are already at work on the site and that drivers should expect to see visible construction activity for several months.
Permits and contractors
City permit records show a site and foundation construction permit for 4732 N. Dale Mabry (BLD-22-0490418) with a valuation near $500,000, according to BuildZoom. That public permit entry lists the job as issued and links local firms Kurt Knuth Construction Company and Northside Engineering to work at the property. The same listing records a permit fee of roughly $2,542 for the scope of work.
Site history and access
The lot previously held three motel buildings, and the Econo Lodge that operated there now appears closed in state licensing records, according to the Florida DBPR. Vehicle access for the new Starbucks will come from West Cayuga Street, and site drawings show cars circling the building before reaching the order point and pickup window, as reported by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth. The Stadium Center leasing brochure for 4732–4752 N. Dale Mabry identifies a freestanding Starbucks outparcel listed as "in permitting" and highlights high traffic counts and strong visibility for retailers at the site, details shown in the Stadium Center leasing brochure.
What it means for drivers
The project lines up with Starbucks' national move toward smaller, convenience-focused formats that lean on drive-thru service and mobile pickup. The company has told investors it plans to open hundreds of new U.S. stores in the coming years, with a big emphasis on that quick-turn model. For details on Starbucks' expansion strategy and its investor presentation, see coverage by the AP. Closer to home, the new outparcel adds one more quick-serve option along a busy Dale Mabry corridor that feeds both Raymond James Stadium and the Westshore business district.
