Drive-thru coffee shop planned for old Checkers; more townhomes proposed on Aiken's Southside

Dede Biles, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Jul. 13—A drive-thru-only coffee shop might be constructed in the near future on the site of the vacant Checkers fast food restaurant on Aiken's Southside.

The Aiken Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 7-0 to recommend the approval to Aiken City Council of a concept plan for Scooter's Coffee and a rezoning request, with conditions.

According to the Planning Commission, the applicant, WalReedBevCo. LLC, needs to provide more information about traffic flow, signage and the location of a dumpster.

There also are other issues that should be addressed.

The applicant wants the zoning designation for the approximately 1-acre parcel at 2223 Whiskey Road to be changed from General Business to Planned Commercial.

Scooter's Coffee is a chain founded by Don and Linda Eckles in 1998. They opened their first drive-thru coffee shop in Bellevue, Nebraska.

There now are more than 300 Scooter's Coffee locations in more than 20 states.

In addition to coffee, the menu includes teas, various types of iced drinks, smoothies and blenders with an ice cream base.

Among the food options are Spicy Sausage Burritos, Maple Waffle Sandwiches and Bacon Ciabatta Sandwiches, according to scooterscoffee.com.

Based on the concept plan for the proposed Scooter's Coffee on Aiken's Southside, the vacant 688-square-foot Checkers restaurant building would be torn down. A 664-square-foot Scooter's Coffee shop then would be built.

In June of this year, SCEF Real Estate Ventures LLC purchased the Checkers site for $510,000 from Carmella Sears, according to Aiken County land records.

Checkers closed for good in the summer of 2019.

Tuesday's meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the City of Aiken's new Municipal Building on Chesterfield Street.

It was the first time that the panel had met there.

In other action, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend to City Council the approval of a request for city water and sewer service for Clifton Place, a proposed 171-unit single-family attached townhome development.

The townhomes would be located off Powderhouse Road on 34.3 acres, which are part of a 179.65-acre parcel

The development plan calls for the construction of 100 four-bedroom townhouses on 26-foot wide by 110-foot deep lots.

There also would be 71 3-bedroom townhouses on 20-foot wide by 110-foot deep lots.

The applicant was the CSRA Development Company in Augusta.

CSRA Development also is involved in the construction of a new subdivision, The Sanctuary, on Powderhouse Road near Athol Avenue.

The Sanctuary, which is located near the proposed Clifton Place, was the first phase in the development of the Watson Tract, according to information provided with the agenda for the Planning Commission's meeting.

Clifton Place would be the second phase.