ICYMI: There’s been some rumblings on Facebook about a new project proposed for St. Petersburg. Apparently, a restaurant with a drive-thru that could be a Dunkin’ Donuts is looking to move into the vacant EDGE District property at 913 First Ave. N. (last occupied by a Verizon store), and, well, some folks aren’t happy about it.
Gulfport residents weren’t pleased with the possibility of the global doughnut and coffeehouse chain expanding to their neck of the woods, either.
Arguments opposing the arrival of this rumoured Dunkin’ — which would be neighbors with local businesses like The Bends, Amulet Tattoos, Engine No. 9 and The Blue Goose — run the gamut. Residents and visitors who work, live or play throughout the downtown St. Pete area, for one, probably aren’t sticking around for the corporate doughnut holes. But, that said, this wouldn’t be the first chain to pop up nearby (Subway, Starbucks and the now-closed Five Guys come to mind).
During a public hearing at 2 p.m. March 7 at City Hall, the Development Review Commission is set to consider the proposal for whatever’s hoping to open at the corner of First Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. Members of the community also plan to meet up on Sunday at the EDGE’s Blue Goose to discuss their concerns ahead of the hearing.
This article appears in Feb 22 – Mar 1, 2018.