Starbucks and Car Wash Proposed For Former K-Mart Lot In Phoenixville

PHOENIXVILLE, PA —A Malvern-based developer asked Phoenixville Council Tuesday night for a zoning change to construct Tommy's Car Wash and Starbucks on a seven-acre tract next to Phoenixville Plaza in the 1000 block of Nutt Road.

Arnold Anderson, executive vice president of Longview Property Group, Malvern, asked for a zoning change to permit the carwash and Starbucks.

The property is the site of the Kmart, which closed in 2020. The property is used as a self-storage facility, and has a vacant 400-space parking lot.

Council is expected to render a decision on Jan. 10.

Debra A. Shulski, an Exton attorney, representing Anderson, said the plan calls for improvements including sidewalks, landscaping and stormwater management on the property.

Anderson said the storage facility does not utilize the parking lot.

“The modern car wash can handle the number of cars in Phoenixville,” Anderson said. “Having a modern, high-tech car wash will be advantageous to many people in Phoenixville."

Trevor Sperry, co-founder of Olympus Pines car wash, said the car wash is all glass and recycles the water in a pit under the carwash. The hours would be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. He said Saturdays are the busiest time. He said the carwash typically cleans 300 to 350 a day.

Anderson the Starbucks would provide drive-through service to the customers.

He said the Starbucks will bring in more customers to the adjacent shopping center.

Elizabeth Stevens, a resident, said she is concerned about the traffic in the area becoming more congested.

Laura Vernola, owner of Steel City Coffeehouse and Brewery, 203 Bridge St., asked if a traffic study would be done.

Anderson said the traffic will be addressed.

She also expressed concern about the impact of having another coffee shop in the borough.