Former Bank Building To Become Coffee Shop In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — The former Bank of America building on Whitney Avenue in Hamden will soon become the newest location of Common Grounds Specialty Coffee House after the signing of a long-term lease, according to realtors.

Stephen Press of Press/Cuozzo Realtors successfully negotiated a long-term lease for a 3,800-square-foot freestanding building with drive-thru located at 1697 Whitney Avenue in Hamden, according to a news release.

“The building is located within Walgreens Plaza, a well-known retail center in the Spring Glen section of Hamden, a neighborhood recognized for its strong residential base and steady retail demand along the Whitney Avenue corridor,” officials wrote in a news release. “Following interior and exterior renovations, Common Grounds Specialty Coffee House is projecting a fall opening at the site. The coffeehouse plans to take advantage of the building’s existing drive-thru configuration, which is increasingly sought after by quick-service and café operators.”

Press represented the landlord and tenant in the transaction.

“Most commercial real estate deals, unlike wine, don’t age well,” Press said. “This transaction started with an initial showing of the space during COVID and ultimately came together years later, demonstrating the persistence often required to bring the right tenant to the right location.”

The lease marks a “successful repositioning of a former bank branch building, a property type that has seen growing demand from restaurant, café, and service-oriented retailers seeking freestanding buildings with drive-thru capabilities,” the news release states. “Walgreens Plaza benefits from its location along Whitney Avenue, one of the primary retail and commuter corridors connecting Hamden and nearby New Haven, with strong daily traffic and proximity to established residential neighborhoods and local institutions including Yale University.”

See also: Popular Coffee Shop To Open New Location In Hamden