Over the last several weeks a question that has been on many Levittown residents' lips has been; "What happened to Dunkin' Donuts?" The sudden closure and then demolition of the popular Levittown shop on Hempstead Turnpike has left many people wondering what will replace it.

Rite Aid Pharmacy has leased the property and hopes to open its doors in late spring. While the current plan is for the drugstore to open in late spring it is contingent upon the weather because the building is under construction. The first step in the construction was the demolition of Dunkin' Donuts and the vacant building next door. Construction has already begun on the store which, according to Rite Aid representative Jody Cook, will occupy approximately 11,000 square feet.

According to Hempstead Town Councilwoman Linda Reed, despite the fact that approval of the plans for the store was not necessary because it was already zoned as commercial property, Rite Aids' representatives brought their plans to the town to be approved. They filed an application with the town building department and the permits were issued from that department on Aug. 28. Immediately following the issuing of those permits the town passed a resolution that Rite Aid could build on that property.

While many residents, including Reed, will miss Dunkin' Donuts, which has been a part of Levittown history for as long as many residents can remember, she believes that Rite Aid will be a good store for Levittown. Reed stated "They are really nice neighbors."

Rite Aid, according to Reed, plans to landscape the property, so as not to interfere with the neighbors behind the property. They have plans to put up a nice looking fence and shrubbery. Reed added, "They are going to make it look really nice." Reed believes that this landscaping and new building will fit in well with the plans for the beautification of Hempstead Turnpike.

Rite Aid is a retail drugstore which will have many different features for the residents of Levittown. According to Cook, the store will have a drive-up pharmacy window, an expanded pharmacy waiting area, a private consultation room where customers can speak privately with their pharmacist, a one hour photo lab, and an expanded cosmetics section. "The drive-up pharmacy window is extremely popular with our elderly customers and customers with small children," added Cook. The store will also feature a business center with services such as faxing, photocopying, mailing and shipping and will also sell convenience food items such as bread, milk, and cold beverages. This store, along with all new Rite Aid stores, will be implementing wider aisles, lower shelving, and brighter lighting to ease shopping.

Like most Rite Aid stores, the one on Hempstead Turnpike will have approximately 52 parking spaces for shoppers. Cook said the company does not yet know when deliveries will be made to the store but that those deliveries will not cause any change in traffic patterns.

Although she looks forward to the opening of Rite Aid, Reed, who grew up in the Levittown area will miss the familiar Dunkin' Donuts and hopes another one will open in Levittown. She said, "It's like a part of our history has been taken away."