‘Fast casual’ eateries proposed at Towne Center

VILLAGE OF FAYETTEVILLE – COR Development is proposing two new “fast casual” restaurants at Fayetteville Towne Center in a proposed building between McDonald’s and Key Bank adjacent to East Genesee Street.
While the restaurants haven’t been disclosed, one restaurant has a Mexican theme and the other would serve “sandwiches, coffee and salads,” according to Kate Johnson of COR. Johnson said neither restaurant is a Chick-fil-A.
“These aren’t restaurants that are new to our area. These aren’t things you haven’t seen,” Johnson said. “People like these restaurants. I think you’ll be very pleased.”
Asked whether the Mexican restaurant was a Chipotle, Johnson said it was “similar” to a Chipotle.
The new building is approximately 7,500 square feet and would be structurally similar to the other out buildings in center.
The restaurants would both have drive throughs as well as indoor seating. One restaurant would have a traditional drive through where patrons order at a menu board and then move forward to a pick-up window. The other restaurant would have patrons order in advance and then arrive at a pick-up window at a scheduled time.
During the pandemic, as take-out dining has exploded in popularity, drive through capabilities have been a big advantage for restaurants.
“The ones that don’t have drive throughs or don’t have the ability to have a drive through are going to close or change what they’re going to do,” said Johnson.
Rich Rosetti of the Manlius Planning Board said he had never seen a development with two drive throughs.
“We’ve accommodated for it, and I think we’ve done a pretty creative layout to make it work out,” said architect Andrew Hart. “It may be the new norm.”
The board will continue to discuss the proposal at its meeting on May 10.