The newly remodeled Starbucks on Second St. Photos by Sarah Bennett.

Belmont Shore’s Starbucks presence has been going through some changes lately, starting with the closure of Second Street’s smaller location and a massive remodel of the company’s new area flagship at Covina Ave.

After temporarily shuttering for construction in April, the Starbucks at 5251 E. Second St. is hosting a grand re-opening party today at 3PM where customers can take in the location’s new expansive patio and order a cup of ultra-premium coffee individually brewed on a $11,000 Clover machine, one of only three to exist in the entire Southland.

Immediately after construction finished at the remodeled store a few weeks ago, Starbucks permanently closed its smaller one, located a few blocks away between Roycroft and Park avenues.

“As part of Starbucks standard course of business, we continually evaluate our business to ensure a healthy store portfolio,” a Starbucks spokesperson told the Post. “After careful consideration, we’ve determined that it is best to close the [other] location on E. 2nd St.at this time, effective the end of May.”

In an effort to compete with the growing number of local roasters and the blossoming thrid-wave coffee trend, the newly larger store on the corner of Covina Ave. is now home to Long Beach’s only Clover brewing system–a pricey machine being installed at a limited number of Starbucks stores that uses beans from the company’s exclusive Clover coffee line.

During a recent in-store demonstration, an employee explained that the Clover works like a reverse French press in that is pressurized and uses no filter to create a single cup of pure coffee-ground extract. Beans are delivered several times a week to ensure freshness and come in both single-origin and special custom blends. 

Starbucks Belmont Shore’s grand re-opening celebration will run from 3PM to 6PM Friday, June 14 and feature live music, food and beverage samples as well as activities for kids. Starbucks is located at 5251 E. Second St.

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