Lebanon business update: Waffle House, Starbucks and REI plus a car wash controversy
Starbucks, Waffle House and a Mister Car Wash are among several brands that have lobbied to build and open in Lebanon, but each of them are at different stages in the approval process.
Meanwhile, Recreation Equipment Inc.’s new 400,000 square foot distribution center is now open on Murfreesboro Road with more than 230 employees.
Here's where things stand with projects around town:
Starbucks
A site plan to build a new restaurant on about 1.4 acres on West Main Street between a Dollar Tree and Dairy Queen was deferred from the October planning commission meeting.
A variance request for the plan was discussed at a preliminary planning commission meeting, but the applicant for Starbucks ultimately deferred the request.
There was discussion on coordinating trees and utilities at a preliminary planning commission meeting. Lebanon Planning Director Paul Corder expects Starbucks to still move forward with the plan, but he was uncertain on what changes may be considered.
Mayor Rick Bell advocated for the proposed Starbucks during the meeting.
“People have been wanting a Starbucks on the west side (of Lebanon) for a decade,” Bell said. “And this is a shot at it … And I would hate to put that in any kind of jeopardy.”
Waffle House
A site plan has been submitted and approved to build a new 1,840-square-foot Waffle House at 20 Blair Lane, just off West Main.
An estimate on when construction could start and when the future Waffle House could open wasn’t immediately available.
The plan was approved with a variance for the pedestrian entrance to face the parking lot, Corder said.
Mister Car Wash
A vote on a plan to build a 5,434-square-foot Mister Car Wash, at 1555 West Main Street, was deferred in October after planning commissioners were told the business was not recruited by the city.
“The developer chose the tenants as Thorntons and Mister Car Wash against our wishes, but had the zoning in place,” Lebanon Economic Development Director Sarah Haston said. “We do not believe the car wash is the best use for this land, especially since the city worked so hard to realign the infrastructure there.”
Planning commissioners were able to postpone the Mister Car Wash vote because the property has a conditional use with no variances allowed. The site plan proposed at the time Lebanon planning staff made its report had a variance request, Corder said.
The planning staff recommended denial, but the applicant for Mister Car Wash emailed its plan to be in compliance with all regulations. But since an official submittal wasn’t received in time for the meeting, the plan was deferred.
Efforts to reach representatives for the project were unsuccessful.
REI opens with 230 workers
The Washington-based outdoor retailer and member-owned company known as REI held a grand opening in October.
The new facility on 41 acres supports more than 60 stores in the Southeast and Midwest and provides two-day shipping to 80% of its customer base, improving transit times to stores, officials said. REI has five stores in Tennessee, including one in Brentwood.
REI has the potential to increase its workforce to 350 in Lebanon, city officials said.
The building was designed and developed in partnership with Al. Neyer and has side wall windows in employee work areas and loading docks with 90 skylights throughout the warehouse to add natural lighting to work areas. Solar panels are installed.
There are also art features inside that include wood and metal from the original barn and trees on the property before development.
Outside is a mountain design of the Appalachian region.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Lebanon business update: Waffle House, Starbucks, REI and controversy
