Starbucks on the move in the centre of Elgin

IT is understood that Starbucks is set to open a new coffee house in the former Burton store in the centre of Elgin.

However, for now the international chain – which already has an existing town centre outlet just a stone's throw away – is keeping a lid on its coffee cups and any plans.

However, work has started to prepare the building, which has been empty for more than two years.

Starbucks also has a drive-thru/sit-in coffee shop on the outskirts of the town to the east at the Elgin Business Park.

The move into the Burton store would be a relocation of the existing outlet across the Plainstones.

A spokeswoman for Starbucks said: "We are always looking for new locations and opportunities to bring the Starbucks experience to customers in the UK, but at this time we have no updates to share about plans in Elgin.”

• The Burton menswear store, which opened in 1936, closed in February 2021 after owners the Arcadia Group went into administration in November 2020.
• There are two commemorative stones which were laid in the Burton building in1936, one by Raymond Montague Burton, founder of the business in the early 1900s and the other by his son Stanley Howard Burton.
• However, the building itself dates back to1888.
• Raymond Montague Burton emigrated to England from what is now Lithuania in 1900 aged 15 and by 1914 he had 14 branches making and selling affordable clothing. By 1939 the business had grown to 595 branches.

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