Head : Edwards Starbucks opens Friday

Keywords: Edwards Starbucks., coffeeWord Count: 250Colorado1s 85th Starbucks will open Friday at 6 a.m. at the Riverwalk in Edwards.3We1re so excited, said Bridget Barrett, Starbucks marketing director.3It1s one of those communities we1ve always wanted to be in.The new 1,538-square-foot store is in the Amber Building at 216 Main St.Preceding the opening today is a benefit<with free espresso beverages for attendees<for the Edwards Elementary School art department from 5 to 7 p.m. The store will be decorated with coffee bean art projects created by students in the art classes. Attendees will be asked for donations that will be given to the art department, Barrett said.The new store brings to three the number of stores in Eagle County, joining stories in Avon at Nottingham Station and in Beaver Creek at One Beaver Creek Place. The Beaver Creek facility is operated by Vail Resorts under a licensing agreement with Starbucks. The other two stores are owned by Starbucks.Starbucks is a Seattle-based company with 4,700 stores worldwide. The company has seen phenomenal growth since it was founded in 1971.Kelley Bevington will be the manager of the new store in Edwards, which will be open from 6 a.m. through 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It will carry a full line of whole bean coffee, a full beverage menu and retail merchandise, Barrett said.3We were really lucky to get this site, said Barrett.