Alta-Dena/Starbucks
The vintage 785-square-foot drive-through that once catered to Alta-Dena Dairy customers is, as of February 1, 2024, the latest caffeine hub in Tustin. Identified “as a rare example of an important automobile-oriented historic property type” in the City of Tustin’s 2021 Historic Resource Survey, the KDC Construction project included the rehabilitation of and modification to the historic building and preservation of the historic pole sign. Inspired by midcentury Googie architecture, it had been a noticeable staple in the city for over 70 years, so when Starbucks came knocking to open shop in the historic space, the City of Tustin required the coffee chain to keep some, if not most, of its original architectural elements. Although the former convenience store did have parking space for walk-in customers, the Starbucks is drive-thru only.
Tustin, Orange County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt