AUBURN — A gas station vacant for nearly five years on busy Center Street will come down to make way for a New Hampshire coffee chain and new retail space, if the Planning Board approves next week.

Developer Pinstripes LLC will go before the board Aug. 12 for site plan approval and a special exception permit for the proposed drive-thru at 166 Center St., Eric Cousens, city deputy director of planning and development, said Tuesday.

Aroma Joe’s would take up 1,500 square feet of the new building with seating for 15 inside and an unnamed retail tenant would take up the other 1,800 square feet, according to City Planner Doug Greene.

The coffee chain’s slogan is “No intercoms, no mistakes, no attitudes.” It has locations throughout Maine and New Hampshire, according to its website.

Cousens said the city has been working separately with the state on a traffic movement permit for the site.

“We expect about 115 (trips) for the peak hour for an Aroma Joe’s,” Cousens said, compared to 330 trips at peak hour for a Dunkin’ Donuts.

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The old gas station, next to Margarita’s restaurant, could be torn down and construction could begin within 30 days of the city’s permit approval.

“They’d like to start construction this fall and have it closed in before the winter and occupy it later in the year,” Cousens said.

Pinstripes LLC lists its address in the permit application as 682 Main St., Portland.

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aroma joe's, auburn maine, center street
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