Recessions have a way of producing some of the worst town planning decisions. Out of desperation, towns and cities allow businesses to occupy prime spaces which in ordinary times would never get approval.
An example of this is the Starbucks in Cos Cob, approved by the town even though that venue only had six parking spaces. The results were predictable: people parked on side streets and deprived other businesses of the traffic they needed to survive. Drivers frequently clogged up that busy intersection either waiting to pull into Starbucks – or trying to get out of it.
Now the same gridlock is coming to Old Greenwich, a village with even more challenging traffic patterns. OG will have its first national QSR (quick service restaurant) when Dunkin Donuts moves into the empty space on Sound Beach Avenue next to the Wells Fargo Bank and previously occupied by Patriot Bank. Now for the uninitiated, a “quick service” restaurant is exactly that – people jumping out of their cars to grab a cup of coffee or some donuts.
That’s exactly what I did every morning for 17 years when I lived in Hingham, Mass. (there were six Dunkin Donuts on my way to work, and there is no coffee better than Dunkins’ IMHO). But at least the folks in Boston insisted on enough parking and positioned all the donut stores on the right side of the streets going into Boston in the morning (the liquor stores and bars were on the other side when we came home).
Now add this wrinkle: The owners of Arcadia Cafe have applied for a wine and beer license, presumably to change that coffee shop to a full-service restaurant.
(I don’t see how we can allow Dunkin Donuts to set up shop in OG and not allow a landmark local business, Arcadia, to pursue its strategy. It would seem unfair. But if Arcadia expands, that will certainly exacerbate the traffic problem.)
Now the owners of the rising commercial building down the street next to Finesods must be watching all this with great interest. That building is being put up on spec, and as far I know, there is still no retail tenant.
And that there’s a Dunkin Donuts up the street, why not a McDonald’s down the street?
I believe the quick-service restaurants like Starbuck’s and Dunkin Donuts are providing drive-through lanes as a convenience factor whenever possible based on their location/consumer needs and wants, especially in areas where parking is at a premium. This offers that commuting/mobile time-oriented customer a clear choice. I would hope that’s the case in these new ones in this instance.
On the other hand, a dining establishment like Arcadia is probably not the same situation since that experience is 1-2 hours of relaxed dining versus the above.
The only problem I have with Dunkin Donuts is they no longer make their namesake: the basic plain cake donut with the “handle” so you can dunk it. It’s now just a round donut. Anyone know why those who acquired the chain would do such a thing without the franchisees objecting?
Comment by Cheetah — January 30th, 2012 @ 10:51 am
With regard to traffic, there is full stop congestion on the Post Rd on the westerly side of Greenwich with west-bound traffic stopped for left-turners into McD’s drive-up, directly opposite east-bound left-turners into DD’s drive-up.
OG will never be the same. Of course, CVS led the way.
Comment by Nathan Hale — January 30th, 2012 @ 12:44 pm
Don’t think drive thru part of DD’s plans in OG. But the owners of Arcadia have forgotten their history. When Caitlin first opened Arcadia, the P&Z limited seating to 12, based on the parking spaces assigned to that building. Other food operators, primarily Alpen Pantry and the late, great Beyond Bread, complained bitterly about letting Arcadia open. Arcadia strictly adhered to seating capacity limitation, but in recent years different owners have added more seats. If the Wine and Beer permit require public hearings, expect some people to complain that Arcadia has been living in violation of its (original) permit for years.
Comment by John Dough — January 30th, 2012 @ 1:41 pm