Kawah Coffee and Bradenton struggle to find the perfect blend
It’s been almost 18 months since Kawah Coffee announced it would open its first Bradenton location in the 6700 block of Manatee Avenue West next to Five Guys.
The approval came in March of 2019, but a proposed drive-thru lane required a separate special use permit, which the city ultimately rejected in October.
City officials rejected the special-use permit because the design would have taken drivers behind plaza businesses where garbage and delivery trucks need to be and create excess traffic onto 67th Street West.
When first proposed, it was to be the chain’s first expansion into the city. They already have a location at 8317 Market St. in Lakewood Ranch.
Developers took the city’s denial up with a special magistrate who recommended the business and the city compromise, including limiting hours to early mornings for the drive-thru lane. On Wednesday, city officials agreed to give a compromise one last shot, but barely.
Ward 1 Councilman Gene Gallo voted against reconsidering the council’s October decision, saying it’s a public safety issue.
“Our main concern was something that cannot be controlled by the owners of that shopping center or us, and that’s the eastbound traffic on Manatee Avenue and traffic trying to get in there in the mornings,” Gallo said. “It’s already bumper to bumper in the winter and I don’t see any discussions we can have with the developers and our staff to change my mind.”
Gallo pointed out the Starbucks location on Manatee Avenue and First Street as an example of what could happen with traffic backing out into a busy roadway. However, Gallo said he supports the coffee chain opening, just without a drive-thru lane.
“If you want to come into the shopping center, go into the store and get a cup of coffee, then fine,” Gallo said. “I don’t want to be responsible for voting yes and someone getting killed.”
Ward 4 Councilman Bill Sanders said the council had no problem approving a similar situation with a new Dunkin Doughnuts in his ward, so, “I know there is a traffic problem, but it’s not a businessman’s problem. I don’t think we can do it for one end of town and not the other.”
The council ultimately voted to reconsider their October decision by a 4-1 margin. Other council members said they were amenable to hearing options.
“If we can make a compromise, if we can solve that issue, then no problem,” said Ward 5 Councilman Harold Byrd Jr.
The city and Kawah Coffee will have the next two weeks to reach a compromise before the council takes up a new vote on Aug. 12.