Saying that it was the right project in the wrong place, Walnut Creek City Council members this week rejected plans for an Amy’s Drive-Thru vegetarian restaurant, more than two years after it was first proposed.
At issue specifically was the restaurant’s drive-up window, and the traffic some believe it would create near the intersection of North Main Street and Second Avenue, on the city’s north end.
“I just think the specific location needs to be different,” said Councilman Kevin Wilk at about 1:15 a.m. Wednesday. Though the council vote was 5-0 against the restaurant — specifically the drive-thru element —
he and other council members said they want Amy’s Drive-Thru in their city. But not there.
The city’s Planning Commission on Jan. 23 voted 4-3 to deny Amy’s application for a conditional use permit for drive-up service at the planned 3,773-square-foot restaurant. Tuesday night’s City Council hearing was to hear an appeal of that denial.
Dozens of residents from the neighborhood near North Main and Second told the council not only would cars lining up for the drive-thru further clog North Main, but that the stream of cars emptying out onto Second Street would also present a safety hazard.
Amy’s is the second drive-thru restaurant proposed at that corner in recent years. In-N-Out Burger had wanted to build there, but that proposal was pulled in April 2017.
Amy’s Drive-Thru is associated with Petaluma-based Amy’s Kitchen, which produces a popular line of frozen vegetarian dinners available in grocery stores. The restaurant menu includes veggie burgers, shakes, French fries, pizzas, macaroni and cheese, and salads. The company’s websites lists existing locations in Rohnert Park and at the San Francisco International Airport.
Put it in Martinez instead. We need more restaurants with drive-thrus. And the demographic seems to have shifted to a younger well paid bunch who would probably keep it in business.
Go well at the old Wendy’s location next to new Marijuana dispensary that is coming, just pad the city counsels pockets and you can get anything done.
Got to give the council kickback money like Chick-fil-A Amy’s cmon now grease that wheel betta
Bring Marie Callender back!
I just could not go to Marie Calendars anymore. The taste of the food and atmosphere was good and I really liked that whipped honey orange butter for the bread and muffins. But for whatever bizarre reason, they just threw massive amounts of salt in everything. I would order the chicken pot pie and the salt was so much I just could not enjoy what used to be my favorite meal there. They drove me away.
That’s too bad. It’s also too bad it took them two years to say no. Hopefully Amy’s has a back up plan for PH, Concord, or Martinez.
As an aside, the real problems at the north end of WC are the poorly designed on and off ramps. Once again, we have a capacity problem. Anyone on Treat Blvd wishing to enter 680 South has to make a U-turn on North Main, which backs things up on both streets.
This is not correct – west bound on Treat the proper on-ramp to SB 680 is a right turn into N. Main then a right into the on ramp. The UTurn is a shortcut.
That it’s true!!! I’m sick of idiots doing a u-turn to get on 680-South. You’re supposed to make a right turn on North Main/Contra Costa Blvd. and pop right onto the freeway there!!!
These damn Treat Blvd. u-turns slow traffic to a crawl! Need to put a no u-turn sign in like half the other lights in the area.
I’m not a traffic engineer but this ain’t rocket science… Concur with the above comment for drivers to go NB on N. Main Street to the SB I-680 on-ramp around BevMo.
Walnut Creek’s City Traffic Engineer should seriously consider prohibiting the U-turn from WB Treat Blvd because it backs up motorists on NB N. Main Street wishing to turn EB on Treat Blvd.
I’m just hoping that no one says “Olive Garden”
Put one near In & Out burger by Target in Concord.
Olive Garden!!
Can we put THIS in Concord at the old Lin’s buffet spot over chickfullofhate?
I think that spot is jinxed, no business has lasted more than a couple of years at that location.
I thought In n Out wanted the space near Black Angus.
Old black angus location? Old elephant bar location? Old Tahoe Joe’s location.
Next door to the funeral home. Not the Black Angus spot. I read somewhere they are thinking hotel for Black Angus location.
Old Elephant Bar has been bulldozed, going to be a DaVita Dialysis clinic.
JJ, fifty years ago when my parents drug us to California, there was either a hotel or a large higher-quality motel there. Take it back to its roots!!!! LOL
These days, though, the one by Boyd Rd. is probably too close for one there to be profitable.
I think people are reacting to the poorly designed drive-thru at Chick-fil-A I don’t think Amy’s vegetarian drive-thru is going to have nearly the volume of traffic that Chick-fil-A has. Congratulations Walnut Creek, shut down the Mom and pops in favor of the big giant corporate people with all the money to buy your approval
Yes the WC city Council has ruined Walnut Creek with the yucky condo apartments! All they care about is power and money.
I think the consensus is that no on wants a drive thru on the west side of North Main as it is closer to homes. The Chick Filet is on the east side so does not impact a residential area to the same extent.
Chick Filet has created a traffic nightmare already on North Main. So good thing the city council made a better decision this time.
oh dear, some folks didn’t receive their bribes.
They should put it on Citrus and Oak grove Rd. Haven’t been there in a while but there was a building for sale for a looking time. With the way Amy’s are set up it would probably work
I second this motion! It used to be a restaurant decades back, too.
That’s a really good idea. That area needs a new eatery, and it isn’t full of those parking ditches like The Orchards.
Those “parking ditches” are mandated by the State to filter storm water run-off prior to discharge to the bay.
You can thank your legislators for them.
It failed because it’s not condos.
NOOOO!!! I would have driven all the way to Walnut Creek to get drive-through takeout!!!!
The above article is flat wrong about the final decision taking “two years”.
Amy’s filed their application in May 2019 so it took only about 8 months.
This is disappointing. I guess the neighborhood has not noticed all the empty store fronts around town. The location is on a commercial street.
I hope the Amy’s can find another location in WC or Concord.
Disappointing to hear. We need more plant based options in ClayCord!
That said, Martinez has a couple of potential sites including the old Wendy’s across from Safeway and the vacant lot at the end of the Virginia Hills Shopping Center across from the fire station (although that might incur the wrath of those nearby neighbors too depending on the design).
Alternatively, I gotta think the DVC Plaza where the old Safeway used to be has to have some room…