New Starbucks and Panda Express coming to Massillon. How soon will they open?

MASSILLON – Massillon residents can be drinking venti coffees and eating General Tso's chicken by the end of the year as work has begun on a vacant lot along Lincoln Way E that will be home to a new Starbucks and Panda Express.

"The city of Massillon has been great to work with," said Tim Kaufman of St. Louis-based AKG Development. "Sometimes we have to go into a city and fight but Massillon officials have been really supportive. Massillon has a lot of good things going on."

In the past year, the city has seen several new businesses open along the Lincoln Way corridor, including a Chick-fil-A on the former site of Fishers Foods and a 7 Brew on the former Kmart site. A Chipotle also opened on that site. Aldi opened another grocery store at the corner of Lincoln Way and 27th Street NE last year.

A GetGo gas station and convenience store and Consumers National Bank are planned for vacant land between 22nd Street SE and 23rd Street SE.

Here's what we know about the new Panda Express and Starbucks:

Where are the Starbucks and Panda Express being built?

The new businesses will be constructed on a vacant site between 24th Street SE and 25th Street SE along Lincoln Way E across from the entrance to the Oak Park Center plaza that houses Home Depot, Dunham's, several restaurants, retail businesses, a daycare and medical facilities.

When did the project break ground?

Kaufman said work began about two weeks ago to begin prepping the site for the new buildings.

"After a couple of years of going through the development process, we are beginning to break ground," he said. "We should start seeing structures by early summer."

Kaufman said a lot of site work is needed to prepare the land, including building up the back of the property and constructing retaining walls.

When will Starbucks and Panda Express open?

The Starbucks will be a full cafe. The-2,259 square-foot coffee shop will have indoor seating and a drive-thru, Kaufman explained. He anticipates a late summer, early fall opening.

Panda Express officials said the company hopes to open the restaurant at the end of this year. Officials did not provide any other information about the restaurant.

How much money is being invested in the project?

The total project is expected to be near $5 million with Starbucks construction totaling a little more than $2 million, Kaufman said.

The project includes traffic light and crosswalk changes

In addition to the new business, several improvements will be made to the traffic lights such as the installation of new mast arms at the intersection and the reconfiguration of the crosswalk and lanes to accommodate the new entrance to the businesses. City engineer Alex Pitts explained city ordinance requires anyone making adjustments or changes to an existing intersection must upgrade the span wire traffic lights to mast arms.

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Starbucks, Panda Express opening in Massillon