Dunkin Donuts Proposal Worries Main Street Diner

The Rogers Park end of Main Street is getting a face lift, and that has Melania Torres, owner of the Main Street Diner, a little worried.

Torres has built a strong customer base for the last 13 years offering American classics, like fries, hamburgers, eggs, and home fries. The menu also offers Mexican favorites, like carnitas and tacos.

The Main Street face lift adds a new medical practice at 2 Main St. now under construction. That's two doors down from the Main Street Diner, and that could mean more customers for the diner.

The bad news is the building between the diner and medical office is slated for demolition to be replaced by a Dunkin Donuts Cafe. That is competition for the diner.

"I don't know if it's going to be good or bad," Torres said. "There's going to be a lot of crazy traffic with a Dunkin Donuts next door. It's hard enough now turning up Main Street."

Danbury Land Use Attorney Neil Marcus, who represents Dunkin Donuts owner Ed Batista, said the cafe is a new Dunkin Donuts concept with comfortable seating and a welcoming atmosphere.

Marcus said the Planning Commission is reviewing the development, which involves forging an "L" shaped building lot by combining one apartment house on South Street with the Brazillian bakery building. Both buildings will be demolished to make way for the Dunkin Donuts Cafe on the L-shaped parcel. The commission planned a public hearing Wednesday night on this proposal.