Editor's Note: This article was written by Steven Nicastro.
The national coffee chain Starbucks is interested in opening a new store at the vacant Rayco 4 property on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, Councilman Gary Hudes announced at February's property owners meeting.
Hudes said the company will be applying for a drive-through Starbucks, with a hearing to be scheduled before the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals. No date has been scheduled yet.
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"Whether or not they get the drive-through, they still have the ability to put the Starbucks there that you would walk in to," Hudes said.
Noise is a possible concern for the drive-through because there are homes located in back of the property. Hudes said the drive-through speakers and noise from cars could be an issue.
"We need to make sure that a drive-through wouldn't impact neighbors behind there," Hudes said.
Starbucks currently operates two locations in Levittown - one in the Philips Plaza shopping center at 3240 Hempstead Tpke. and the other at 3850 Hempstead Tpke.
The new store would be located only 1.18 miles from the Philips Plaza location, but it would be located on the other side of the Turnpike, right before the Wantagh Parkway entrance.
"They look in terms of traffic flow - most people don't want to go through the hassle of making U-turns to get to where they are going," Hudes said.
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