City commission denies drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts, locals cheer

At first it seemed the controversy over 913 1st Avenue North was going to play on for another month. The proposal for a special exception for a drive-thru restaurant in the building that previously housed a Verizon Wireless, would fill the long-vacant building with a Dunkin’ Donuts. This fact enraged many local business owners that seek to keep St. Petersburg independent and locally focused.

Previous coverage: Local business owners to gather in protest of corporate chain encroachment

After two hours of other committee deliberations, the issue was next on the agenda for the city’s development review commission, when business developer Jonathan Moore asked for another month to speak with the community and help allay their concerns.

But with the city chambers filled with concerned citizens, along with two overflow rooms, the show had to go on. And it did, much to the dismay of Moore, whose special exception request was denied unanimously after extensive public comment from local organizations and business owners, including the owner of a neighboring business to the proposed site, Amulet Tattoos. 

Previous coverage: EDGE district fights to keep St. Pete independent

While the locals won the day with the denial of this special exception drive-thru, that doesn’t mean that they have stopped the corporate encroachment many fear, even for this site. But you can bet that Keep St. Pete Local, and the EDGE district, along with dozens of small business owners will continue to fight to keep St. Pete independent.