Biggby Coffee Proposes Drive-Thru Coffee Shop In Waukesha

WAUKESHA, WI—A small coffee drive-thru shop is proposed for Waukesha on a one acre parcel at the corner of River Road, Rapids Trail, and Raintree Lane.

The parcel was originally intended for a daycare or similar neighborhood business to locate there, but it has never been developed.

Biggby Coffee is proposing a 350 square feet shop and will not include any indoor dining or seating. Instead outdoor seating will be available on a patio between the drive-thru lanes. Patio seating will include Adirondack chairs and small tables, with a total of less than twenty seats.

The building, which Biggby Coffee refers to as a “B-Cubed” concept, is prefabricated and delivered to the site. It has space inside for the coffee service only, as well as a small restroom for employees. The plans as shown do not include a public restroom, but one will be required by the Building Code, and the applicant has said she would be willing to add an outside entrance to the employee one.

The zoning code requires a minimum of fifty parking spaces for any “drive-in” restaurant, which includes all restaurants which serve their food in disposable containers. However, the Plan Commission has leeway to allow restaurants with fewer parking spaces in cases where it is justified by circumstances.

The coffee shop will have a maximum of five employees working on a single shift and will have outdoor seating for less than twenty people. The site plan currently shows twenty-six spaces. The applicant says she wants to emphasize the grab and go nature of the business and discourage loitering, so she thinks that number is more than enough.

The Waukesha Plan Commission will consider the proposal during a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.