Middletown Drops Opposition To Drive-Through Bagel Store

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Plans to bring a drive-through Manhattan Bagel store to the Summit Square Shopping Center are moving forward, this time without the opposition of the board of supervisors.

The new drive-through bagel store would be located at the former Einstein Brothers location which closed earlier this year.

At its June meeting, the board of supervisors dropped its opposition to the store's zoning board application after the applicant submitted a revised zoning plan addressing the township's concerns regarding traffic flow, parking, and stacking with the proposed drive-through.

After the board voted to oppose the project in May, land development attorney Julie Von Spreckelsen said they went back to the drawing board and directed its project engineer to redesign the drive-through aisle to make it safer and to improve traffic flow and safety around the site.

"What we did was remove 14 parking spaces located on the eastern side of the building in order to to avoid the conflict of parking on either side of the drive-through aisle as you move toward the rear of the property. Now the drive-through aisle flows nicely through the rear of the property," she told the supervisors.

The revised zoning plan shows the flow of traffic around the building.

Among the issues raised by the board with the original plan was stacking from the drive-through lane blocking proposed parking spaces on the eastern side of the store.

With the new design in hand, Von Spreckelsen said they presented the updated plan to the township's professionals. They also provided a parking study "to show that there is excess parking for 50 spaces at the site so removal of 14 spaces is not going to be an issue."

Von Spreckelsen also presented the township with letters of support from neighboring tenants "who believe this is a positive that will help this business. Part of the issue with the Einstein site was they didn't have a drive-through. During the pandemic, it really affected their ability to serve their customers.

"With all of that I think we've been able to satisfy the concerns of the township staff and consultants," said Von Spreckelsen.

Manhattan Bagel, which is known for its freshly baked and boiled New York-style bagels, is part of Panera Brands, which includes Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels. It's other locations in Bucks include Middletown Township (Shoppes at Flowers Mill), Richboro, Southampton and Feasterville.