Would You Like to Swing on a Starbucks?

By James Kennedy

Another attempt is being made by Starbucks Coffee to establish one of their shops in Mineola. Represented by attorney Thomas Pantelis, Starbucks and Roslyn Road Triangle Realty Corp appeared before Mayor John P. Colbert and the board of trustees last Wednesday night.

Last Dec. 18 Starbucks appeared before petitioning to establish a coffee shop at 204 Station Plaza North otherwise known as Front Street. The application was voted down by the board coinciding with the village's moratorium on restaurants.

The current application is in reference to the property located at 106 Old Country Road. If one is travelling south on Roslyn Road, the road forks as it reaches Old Country Road. It is the fork to the right on the north side of Old Country Road where the site is located.

Currently occupying this site is a one story masonry building approximately 1,356 square feet in size.

Using a set of elevations and sight plans Pantelis explained some of the changes that the applicants would like to make.

The current entrance is on the north side of the building facing the parking lot. The applicants propose to add an additional entrance to attract the pedestrian traffic coming from the courts and office buildings.

The coffee shop would be comprised of a service area, a closed workroom, handicap equipped restrooms, six tables, 23 seats and a gas powered fireplace which is currently on premises.

Outside there would be seating for four around two tables on the east side of the building. On the west wall there will be a small trash enclosure. Trash will be picked up by either commercial services or private carters.

After concerns expressed by Trustee Elizabeth Conlon, Pantelis told the board that the outside patio would not be fenced or walled in.

District Manager for Starbucks Vincent Grillo is in charge of 14 such coffee shops in Nassau County. He described some of the characteristics of a typical Starbucks Coffee Shop.

The anticipated hours of the store would run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. depending on the strength of sales. The latest a store such as this would stay open is 11 p.m.

There would be 15 employees, most likely of college age, with no more than three in the shop at any given time. However, a fourth employee might be added dependent on business.

The shop would sell coffee beverages, pastries and coffee related items. Though some stores serve light sandwiches, the attorney said that . The only preparation of food that will take place on the premises will be the making of coffee.

Deliveries would be made by a small panel truck (except for milk to be delivered in a refrigerated truck) once or twice a day. All deliveries will take place between normal store hours except for pastries to be dropped off around 5:30 a.m. by a delivery man who is equipped with a key to the store.

Engineer Scott Spittal, who has been involved with the establishment of four other Starbucks in Nassau County, testified at the hearing as an expert that a Starbucks at that site will not have an adverse impact on traffic or off site parking.

Spittal explained that operation's such as Starbucks establish themselves on busy roads because between 70% and 90% of the people who normally frequent these shops are on the road anyway.

The shop will generate approximately 400 customers over a 24 hour time period, 25% of which will arrive before 9 a.m. Of that 400, 30% to 40% will be pedestrian traffic.

Spittal studied the traffic the Tuesday and Wednesday, between the peak hours 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. as well as 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., previous to the Wednesday night meeting.

Trustee Maryanne Warnecke questioned why the studies are not done on Mondays and Fridays. Spittal said that reports done on those days are subject to greater criticism because of such factors as three day weekends.

He stated that he surveyed a total of 10 parking spaces, as well as some metered parking. "There always was a couple of spaces available," he commented.

Spittal concured with the opinion of Trustee Lou Santosus that it was probably a good idea to erect a sign that prohibited left turns from exiting the parking lot onto Old Country Road.

However, he said that in his opinion there would be sufficient gaps in the traffic for cars to turn left from Old Country Road to enter the parking lot.

Resident Scott Fairgrieve expressed his concerns about the traffic situation and strongly suggested a report for the trustees to examine as well as a prohibition against live music.

In conclusion Pantelis agreed that the board could require a traffic study, however in his opinion the board at sufficient information to make a decision. With that the mayor closed the meeting.