The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

October 2, 2012

Planner expects new Olive Garden to bustle

98+ parking spots, seating for 242

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

HERMITAGE — Stephen I. Franczak had a word of advice for anyone looking to dine at Olive Garden’s Hermitage restaurant, which is expected to open early next summer.

“On Friday night, Saturday night, I suggest you get there before 5 o’clock because it’s going to be crowded,” Franczak, director of planning for developer Levey & Co., Akron, told the Hermitage Planning Commission Monday.

And those customers in most cases will be coming by car, parking in the 98 parking spaces on the designated Olive Garden lot, or across the driveway in spaces otherwise dedicated to Kohl’s.

Noting that there is a row of Olive Garden parking that will require motorists to back onto the driveway road, commissioner Chairman Charles E. Rogers said he could envision accidents.

Franczak said he believes the design is no different than in any other commercial development.

The city has no way to reject such designs, said city Director of Planning and Development Marcia A. Hirschmann, noting the same discussion was held with Visconsi Land Co. Ltd. of Pepper Pike, Ohio, the developer of the former Hermitage Middle School property.

“The nature of commercial development is they’re always trying to squeeze as much as they can,” she said.

The commission recommended approval of a land development plan for Olive Garden, sending the plan to city commissioners.

Darden Restaurants Inc., the Orlando, Fla.,-based owner of more than 2,000 restaurants including Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters and LongHorn Steakhouses, wants to build a 7,659-square-foot eatery on South Hermitage Road, between Burger King and Pizza Hut.

The stone and terra-cotta facade, a takeoff on an Italian farmhouse, is the chain’s latest design, said Brett Mashchak, site development manager for Darden.

The building will seat 242 diners and have five designated take-out parking spots. Restaurant employees will deliver orders right to customer’s cars, Mashchak said

“It’s not a drive-through situation at all,” he said.

The building’s orientation will be turned so that it is not directly facing South Hermitage Road. The entrance will face southeast, more directly facing motorists heading north on South Hermitage Road.

Mashchak was asked about the status of the eatery’s liquor license, and he said he was not sure, but added, “They wouldn’t move forward if they didn’t think they could get it,” he said.

Olive Garden will employ 130, and invest about $2 million in the building, he said.

As with Kohl’s, Levey will handle the site preparation work, and Olive Garden will build its own building, likely starting around Thanksgiving.

Franczak said the Olive Garden plan was presented to the city later than company officials expected, but the pace of submissions for the development should pick up in the coming months. The property has two other outparcels along the freeway – which could be combined into one – and the company is negotiating with McDonald’s to buy the property the fast-food chain abandoned at the freeway and South Hermitage Road.

“I think you’re going to see me quite a bit through the end of the year,” Franczak said.

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