June 9,2015-
Here we go again. The vacant Bank of America building on LOVR in Los Osos sought by McDonalds this time last year before they walked away from a deal – is now being courted by another national chain – Starbucks.
SLO county planner Kerry Brown confirms Starbucks has asked the county to consider if they might approve a new Starbucks location at the site that would include utilizing the existing drive-thru.
“We are still studying the plan” says Brown.
If the plan moves forward the community and likely the Board of Supervisors in the end- would face months of hearings and controversy over the drive-thru idea, unpopular among a sizable group in Los Osos.
Last year the BOS approved a controversial plan by McDonalds to put a restaurant in the space with the BOS approving use of the drive-thru but not 24 hour operation as requested. The fast food giant said they needed a drive-thru to make the deal profitable.Critics raised parking and water issues too.
McDonalds walked away from that compromise.
Now a year later Starbucks, who already has a place in town a few blocks down the road, would lease the old B of A space getting arguably a better location, a larger space and a drive-thru option they do not have now.
For opponents it will be another chance to heap scorn on another corporate giant,anathema to some Los Osos folks.
Brown says the county has decided not to approve any new applications for a drive-thru in Los Osos but that utilizing an existing drive-thru would be up to the supervisors who split on this last time.
One bank in town – Rabobank – has a drive-thru.