GREENFIELD — After months of anticipation, the Starbucks at 200 Mohawk Trail opened its doors Thursday morning to serve its first customer: 12-year-old Emma Lanoue, a seventh grader at Pioneer Valley Regional School.

Emma’s father, Chris Lanoue, of Greenfield, said he drove his daughter, who he described as being a big fan of the coffeehouse chain, to the new location at 4:45 a.m. to become its first customer with the purchase of a strawberry acai refresher drink.

“We found out that they’re opening this morning, and so we were the first customer there, and she was thrilled,” Lanoue said. “We have Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, but it’s nice to have another one there.”

Lanoue said he believes the new business could provide a financial boost to the city, noting that its location near the Interstate 91 rotary may attract out-of-town customers.

“It’s good for Greenfield and, hopefully, it’ll bring some more jobs to the town and more money to the city,” he said. “When all the skiers and stuff, they get off right there, right at that exit.”

Other first-day customers, such as Turners Falls resident Sean Berthiaume, made note of the 4,000-square-foot facility, saying he is glad to see a more spacious coffeehouse locally.

“The big draw is that there’s a lot of great local coffee shops, but there’s a ton of room here,” Berthiaume said. “You’re not pinched in.”

The site plan for the new location was approved in April 2024 after representatives from the coffeehouse chain went before the Planning Board that February seeking a special permit to operate as a tenant in the space, which is owned by Orion Pro Friend KP LLC in Miami, Florida.

The new Starbucks features 86 interior seats and four exterior seats along with a 14-vehicle drive-thru, an element of the proposal that prompted traffic concerns from the public when it was brought before the Planning Board.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.