Starbucks is coming to the Statesboro Mall – not inside, but adjacent to the mall's main entrance. This will be the second Starbuck's location in Statesboro. The other is in the Russell Student Union on Georgia Southern University's campus.

            Amber Meeks, the mall's marketing/assistant operations manager, confirmed Friday that construction on the new Starbucks should begin shortly.

            "The site has been prepped, and hopefully construction will begin soon," Meeks said. "We are very happy to have Starbucks coming. We think they will be a great compliment to the businesses that are already here."

            Meeks said she hopes the new Starbucks will open in the next six months.

            "It is my understanding that it will not take very long to build the facility," she said. "I would hope that it would be open by this fall." 

            Meeks said the construction of the restaurant and its surrounding parking is the first part of a three part plan to revamp the main entrance to the mall and parking in front of the mall.

            "Once we finish the Starbucks' construction, we will then begin work on the front entrance and the parking lot," Meeks said. "We will move toward the front of the mall ultimately redoing the roadway that runs right in front of the building itself."

            That isn't all that is happening Meeks said. Bruster's Ice Cream is slated to open today. Located behind the mall next to the Sea Island Bank, Bruster's is owned and operated by Georgia Southern graduates, Boyd and Brooke Green.

            Boyd Green said he has lived in two communities that each had a Bruster's franchise and noticed how well both had done.

            "I really enjoyed their ice cream, and both of the stores that I was familiar with had really done well," he said. "I contacted their corporate office and things just developed from there."

            Green said he and his wife knew the mall location that they chose was just perfect.

            "It's proximity to the mall, shopping, and to the movie theatre made it demographically, an excellent choice," he said. "My wife and I are so excited."

            Boyd Green has left his job as school teacher to pursue the family's dream of owning their own business.

            Green said they will be open today, but will celebrate their grand opening on May 1.