Panera Bread, Verizon Coming to Newtown Square

NEWTOWN SQUARE–The Zoning Hearing Board will meet on Thursday night at 7 p.m. inside the township building to discuss the possibility of two new businesses filling vacant storefronts in Newtown Square.

According to Township Manager Mike Trio, Panera Bread has submitted an application and will have its first hearing on Thursday night. The agenda states:

2012-10 FW PA-Newtown Square, LLC, Regency Centers, 150 Monument Rd., Suite 406, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 relating to the premises in the Newtown Square Shopping Center, 3590 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073. 

 According to Trio, Panera Bread has applied to set up shop at the former Dressbarn location in the Newtown Square Shopping Center. Panera Bread, and possibly another frozen yogurt shop, will be looking for a special exception for the site to be used as a restaurant as well as two variances–one for outdoor seating and a reduction in size of parking spaces from the required 10 ft. by 20 ft. to 9 ft. by 18 ft. A second hearing will also be heard on the following item:

2012-12  Cellular Sales of PA, LLP, 5005 Edgmont Ave, Brookhaven, PA 19015 pertaining to the property at 3515 West Chester Pike, is asking for a Variance from the terms of Ordinance 172-123 A, pertaining to the maximum allowable sign area of 25 SF per sign and a Variance from the allowable 50 SF maximum sign size for the premises to permit two (2) ninety-seven (97) SF Verizon Wireless /CellularSales signs one on each side of the leased premises.

According to Trio, Cellular Sales – Verizon Wireless is applying to take over the former site of Blockbuster Video on West Chester Pike in Newtown Square. Though many readers have spoken on , Verizon Wireless is the main contender for the location and will be seeking for two variances in regards to signage on the storefront.