Blank Street to Open St Andrews Venue

US coffee chain Blank Street is set to open a new location in St Andrews. Based on planning documents submitted to Fife Council this past August, the coffeehouse plans to carry out extensive renovations to a unit on Market Street that currently houses another US food chain, Subway.

Blank Street’s planning documents propose both internal and external alterations to the unit, including the partial demolition of the ground floor and basement as well as significant changes to the unit’s exterior. 

The timeline of the project is unconfirmed, as Blank Street has not yet announced any official dates for the start of construction or the shop’s opening.

Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 2020 and now operating over 100 shops across the US and UK, Blank Street already has two Scottish locations in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The plans submitted to Fife Council depict a site that, once finished, will be roughly the same size as the chain’s other locations, which prioritise a “fast takeaway service,” according to The Courier.

Though the chain has not made any formal announcements about its new St Andrews location, Blank Street’s intention to open a shop in the Fife town first became known through a job advertisement that appeared on both LinkedIn and Indeed.

The listing, which is still open, announced that Blank Street is currently looking for a general manager. It reads: “At Blank Street, we’re on a mission to become the defining food and beverage brand of our generation. From the very beginning, we've set out to add a spark to ordinary experiences through elevated products, attention-to-detail, and a commitment to making every moment memorable.”

“We're motivated by the millions of customers we serve across cities, and know that our potential is unlimited. It all starts with our people and their commitment to make magic happen each and every day,” the post continued.

According to the job description, the shop’s general manager would be expected to “lead Blank Street’s expansion, overseeing new store openings and scaling operations.”

Known particularly for its matcha and viral drink flavors, Blank Street targets the eighteen to twenty four-year-old demographic, according to Consumer Edge, with The Times reporting in April that the chain’s popularity has been “fuelled by the matcha craze among Gen Z customers.”

However, despite largely falling within Blank Street’s target demographic, the town’s students remain torn about the idea of a new coffee chain in St Andrews.

When asked about the chain opening a St Andrews location, third-year student Holly Reid told The Saint: “I personally think that it's nice to have a variety of different coffee shops, but having another chain coffee shop in town when we already have multiple, I think it will take away from independent businesses, which I think could be detrimental to our local community.”

On the idea of Subway closing, Reid said: “I think it is an affordable place to eat, and we already have quite a few coffee shops. Do we really need another one?”

However, fellow third-year student Annabel Hathaway had a different perspective on the prospect of Blank Street replacing Subway, telling The Saint: “I'm excited. I've never been to Blank Street, actually. We do have a lot of coffee shops in town, but I think it'll be an interesting addition, and I love matcha.”

“I love a good Subway, but I'm not that upset about it closing. I don't think it'll be missed that strongly,” continued Hathaway. 

It remains unclear what Subway plans to do after closing its Market Street location, as it has yet to announce any formal relocation or permanent closure in St Andrews.

Photo from Fife Council planning portal