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Larchmont Residents Rally For Drive-Through Dunkin' Donuts

LARCHMONT, N.Y. --  Local parents, commuters and business owners have expressed frustration at the Village of Larchmont’s decision to block the development of a long-awaited Dunkin' Donuts drive-through at 1890 Palmer Avenue -- despite an official traffic study that concluded there would not be any significant impact on traffic. 

1890 Palmer Avenue is the site of a proposed drive-thru Dunkin Donuts.

1890 Palmer Avenue is the site of a proposed drive-thru Dunkin Donuts.

Photo Credit: Submitted

Residents say the location, across from the Larchmont train station, would make the popular breakfast and lunch franchise a convenient stop for Metro-North commuters, as well as a welcome and safe option for busy parents of young children.

“I would love to be able to pick up coffee or food while my child stays safe in the car seat,” said Sean McSherry, a lifelong Larchmont resident who lives less than two blocks from the proposed location. 

“And I know for a lot of us who take the train or drive to work, having a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-through so close to the train station would really make the commute go much more smoothly.”

Just this week, a drive-through Starbucks opened in Scarsdale (see story HERE), and residents there couldn’t be happier -- many stating that they have visited the new location every day since opening and calling it a “lifesaver” and “game-changer.”

According to Scarsdale resident Helen Morley, the new drive-through would be "phenomenal for Larchmont because there is such a lack of parking and this way, people can pop in more easily.”

Drive-throughs have become a mainstay for suburban downtown areas. As part of its mission going forward, 60 percent of the new Starbucks to open will have drive-throughs, said the company. And, Dunkin’ Donuts reports that 59 percent of traditional Dunkin’ locations have a drive-through, with those units boasting a 23 percent higher sales volume than other traditional locations.

Despite multiple empty storefronts in Larchmont, the Village cites an anti-idling measure as grounds for denying a needed permit. But since the restaurant would merely repurpose a pre-existing drive-through at the former Bank of America location, residents have expressed skepticism about how a car waiting in line for coffee could possibly produce more exhaust than a car waiting for the ATM. 

Visit the Facebook page HERE for more details. 

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