Plan for Dunkin' Donuts and Italian Eatery Moves Forward

DARIEN, IL — The plan for a new building to house a Dunkin' Donuts and an Italian restaurant at the site of the old Phillips 66 gas station cleared its first hurdle this week. The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended the project, which will be near Brookhaven Plaza and north of Plainfield Road.

Under the plan, Dunkin' Donuts in Brookhaven Plaza would move to the new 3,500-square-foot building, occupying most of it. A drive-through lane for Dunkin' Donuts would wrap around the building.

The building also would include a restaurant that would prepare Italian calzones, pizza and sandwiches, said the developer, John Manos, who also owns Brookhaven Plaza.

Manos is asking for variances from Darien ordinances. For one, the property in question is not the required two acres to develop.

Manos is also seeking $150,000 from the city for the project. That would help with "enhanced" brick architecture similar to the city's nearby clock tower, said Joe Hennerfeind, the city planner.

"it would bring the architecture of the building in line with the opposite side of Cass Avenue," he said.

The estimated cost of the enhanced architecture is at least twice the requested amount, Hennerfeind said.

The retail development next goes to the municipal services committee for consideration. It meets at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall. Then the council will take up the issue at its Jan. 6 meeting.

In a November letter to Mayor Joe Marchese, Manos said the project would be a good opportunity to develop the site and create another gateway sign, comparable to the clock tower built at the center to the east, "creating a sort of portal, the City of Darien."

"While we are eager to develop this site, we have been advised by our lender and Realtors that it is very risky to develop a center this small and with only two tenants, especially when there is no franchisor guarantee," Manos said. "We have given a considerable amount of money to both tenants in order to entice them to take this space."