"What we had in that building was Steve's Ice Cream, which sold coffee and sandwiches and pastry, and that's what Starbucks sells," Cahaly said.

He said he did not think the proximity of the two Harvard Square stores would be a problem.

"Where the Garage is and where Church Street is are two distinctly different areas of the Square," Cahaly said. "I would definitely think that Starbucks would be successful."

The customers at the Starbucks in the Garage had mixed responses to the idea of another store on Church Street.

"No, definitely not," said Craig Welsh, a Somerville resident, when asked if there was a need for another Starbucks. "I'm against Starbucks. They're taking over the world."

Divinity School student Rebecca J. Lotzer, however, disagreed.

"I think Harvard Square can always use more cafes, especially ones that are friendly to students by having more tables and letting you stay for a couple of hours," she said. "Starbucks is pretty successful at that.