MARLBOROUGH, MA — A drive-thru-only coffee shop is being proposed for an existing asphalt parking area near
I-495.
7 Brew, a fast-growing chain of drive-thru-only cafes, is seeking a special permit to build the coffee shop at 2 Mount Royal Ave. Developers and business representatives went before the Marlborough City Council during a public hearing at Monday's meeting.
The opening would be the coffee chain's second location in Massachusetts, with the other in West Springfield. 7 Brew has a total of 900 locations in the U.S. across 38 states, according to its website.
The proposal calls for a 510-square-foot building, a detached 250-square-foot cooler and two drive-thru lanes.
Vehicles would enter the property from Mount Royal Avenue. Although the site also fronts Lakeside Avenue, customers would not access the coffee shop from that road.
The plans include a bypass lane, additional parking, lighting, landscaping, utilities, signs and stormwater infrastructure. The drive-thru lanes would accommodate 10 vehicles in one lane and 12 in the other.
The business would have no indoor seating or cooking. Employees would prepare coffee, tea, smoothies and milkshakes inside the building and sell prepackaged muffin tops. A walk-up window and picnic table are also planned for customers arriving on foot.
Rather than ordering through menu boards or speakers, customers would place orders with employees carrying tablets outside. The proposed canopy over the drive-thru area would include heaters for employees working during cold weather.
City councilors raised questions Monday about traffic, employee safety during extreme weather and possible noise from outdoor music. Councilors also expressed concern about whether promotional giveaways could draw long lines and affect nearby roads.
Representatives said they submitted a traffic study with the application and that the business would be required to comply with Marlborough's noise rules. They said they would provide additional information when the council's Urban Affairs Committee reviews the proposal.
The location's typical proposed hours are 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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