A ribbon cutting was held Thursday for the new Starbucks at Stadium Park Plaza. The coffee shop opened Saturday and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the Thursday ribbon cutting in front of more than 200 spectators and elected and business leaders.

Stadium Park Plaza developer Jerry Katzoff detailed his efforts to land the coffee shop after Starbucks initially said the location did not generate enough foot traffic. Through some lobbying and working with WKU and Aramark, which already operates a Starbucks at WKU’s Downing Student Union, Starbucks eventually agreed to open the franchise.

The coffee shop is in about half of a 4,500 square foot space that will also house a Topper Corner store that will sell WKU merchandise, as well as items made by WKU students. That space will open in about a month, said Gary Meszaros, assistant vice president, auxiliary services, at WKU.

Among those on hand for the ribbon cutting were state Rep. Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, U.S. Rep. Jim DeCesare, R-Bowling Green, City Commissioner Sue Parrigin, and County Attorney Amy Milliken.

The Starbucks and Topper Corner is in a space facing the entrance to Bowling Green Ballpark.

Katzoff said he has letters of intent in the works with other tenants for the downtown building, with announcements expected soon. 

The Starbucks, with seating for around 100, has some local themed features, including light fixtures made out of real Corvette exhaust systems and manifolds, as well as local artwork.

The Topper Corner space will be partitioned off with a gate when it is closed and the Starbucks is open. The Starbucks’ regular hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. 

— Follow city government reporter Wes Swietek on Twitter @BGDNgovtbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.