By Julie D’Aloiso
Swensons received preliminary plan approval last night, contingent on variances related to architecture, parking, and signs. It will be located (if approved) in the previous Steak n’ Shake property.
Ron Dee, Vice President of Real Estate for Swensons, presented plans for the proposed Swensons drive-in restaurant, if approved would be constructed in the location previously leased by Stake n’ Shake. Swensons has taken over the lease (contingent on approval) and plans to demolish the building and construct a much smaller building in it’s place. This building will be used mainly for kitchen workers and curb servers. There will be two accessible bathrooms on the back of the building with handicapped parking in the back of the building as well.
They are proposing 85 parking spots. Since this is 100% drive-in type of restaurant. Every parking place is, in a way, a set of table and chairs. Customers can eat in their car or take the food home.
Some may think of Swensons as a burger place (after all 15% of their business is the Galley Boy Burger), but they also serve chicken sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, sloppy joes, chili, grilled cheese and more.
Mr. Dee had met with the city’s architectural consultant several times, talked with the mayor and some staff members and thought that he already had approval for the designs.
Listen to the complete audio file (below) of the meeting and hear discussions about the western reserve style and a lot of information about the culture at Swensons. For example their curb servers, who are required to be college students, are instructed to sprint and smile when serving customers.
We are hoping they can come to agreement. There are a lot of people wanting Swensons to come to town. Currently the post we shared last night on Facebook has reached over 17,000 people. And most of them are in favor of this business.
As you may recall, IHOP presented plans to build in Macedonia but could not come to a compromise in regards to the western reserve style (see related article). When we sharing info about IHOP wanting to come to town, our post on Facebook reached over 10,000 but most were not in favor.
The people do not have a vote in the matter. But it safe to say that the majority of people are hoping a compromise can be obtained.
Click the green arrow to listen to the complete audio from the meeting…
Or watch the VIDEO below:
