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A drive-thru cafe is set for construction in the parking lot of a shopping center in Livermore, given the Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of the project this month.
Operated by Arkansas-born 7 Brew Coffee, the freestanding business is slated for groundbreaking at the plaza anchored by Lowe’s Home Improvement, located at First Street and Mines Road.
The approximately 934-square foot cafe — the first of its brand in Livermore — will feature dual drive-thru lanes for a 15-vehicle queue as well as a walk-up window and patio seating.
Although permitted to operate 24 hours a day, as applied, the new 7 Brew Coffee location will not be open 24/7, according to Mira Gantzert of Core States Group, project applicant and civil engineer.
The Livermore Planning Commission approved the project for construction operations at its Sept. 1 regular meeting with an additional recommendation to improve the bike lane-driveway interface nearest the project.
“This will be a good improvement for the site,” Commissioner Jacob Anderson said.
On the subject of operating hours, 7 Brew Coffee businesses are typically open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., Gantzert said during the meeting.
“We wanted to have the 24 hours approved, that way in the future, if there’s ever a time that’s needed to go to the 24 hours, that’s what we would request,” she explained.
Planned hours of operation, shy of the 24/7 request, was not included in the city staff report prepared before the meeting.
The business is not expected to produce greater amounts of noise or activity than typical at the shopping center, Livermore assistant planner Emily LaDue said during the meeting. The layout was designed to minimize vehicle spill-over to surrounding areas, she added.
The commission’s sole concern was a potential conflict between cyclists on First Street and vehicles entering the shopping center at the driveway near the future 7 Brew Coffee.
“I think we might run into some issues where we have drivers very rapidly trying to turn into that (right-hand turn) with an existing bike lane in the middle of the road,” Chairperson Tracy Kronzak said.
The commission recommended staff work with the applicant to improve the bike lane and entrance overlap. The applicant has expressed a willingness to explore solutions, according to LaDue.
In addition to the cafe building, the project is set to include on-site improvements such as a trash and recycling enclosure, directional signage and landscaping.
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