North End Starbucks on hold indefinitely, presumed dead

City officials have postponed a decision indefinitely on a Starbucks for a retail project at the gateway to Boston’s North End, right across from the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

The postponement effectively dooms the chain opening at that spot, which several residents and businesses opposed. They contended that a Starbucks at such a prominent location would damage the North End’s feel, never mind cut into the business of existing coffee shops and diners.

Things seemed to come to a head on July 6, when Mayor Marty Walsh requested that developer Charter Realty & Development withdraw its application to open the Starbucks as part of its retail project at 198 Hanover Street.

Now it’s clear that the requisite city bodies, including the zoning board, will not consider the overall project until Charter comes back with a different tenant mix or a fresh proposal for the site. The developer, its landlord, and Starbucks haven’t formally yanked their plan, but it’s probably only a matter of time. (The relocation of a Citizens Bank branch within the three-story project is also an apparent nonstarter, NorthEndWaterfront.com reports.)

Interestingly, the Peet’s Coffee nearby at 50 Salem Street is scheduled to close on Friday. The closure does not appear to be related to the Starbucks kerfuffle.

• Starbucks proposal deferred indefinitely; Peets Coffee closing Friday [NorthEndWaterfront.com]
• Starbucks in Boston’s North End apparently grounds for controversy [Curbed Boston]
• North End Starbucks proposal appears dead following mayor’s opposition [Curbed Boston]