Vacant Eggertsville buildings get new life
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Eggert Road. A new Consumer's Beverage Center opened on April 30 at 3025 Sheridan Drive, after moving from 2155 Eggert Road.

A Dunkin' Donuts, a AAA automotive service center and a new Consumer's Beverage Center will revamp the intersection of Eggert Road and Sheridan Drive.

The Amherst Town Board approved the rezoning needed to move the projects forward on Monday. The parcel at 2131 Eggert Road was rezoned from GBGeneral Business to MS-Motor Service District.

Attorney Sean Hopkins, of Hopkins, Garas & Sorgi, PLLC, estimated that the parcel had been vacant for five years.

The AAA service center will be built at 2131 Eggert Road. According to Hopkins, the business plans to move quickly on the project once the permits are secured.

The Planning Board recommended approval on April 19.

The other parcels involved in the redevelopment are at 2155 Eggert Road and 3025 Sheridan Drive.

Dunkin' Donuts will demolish the 2155 Eggert Road parcel and build a new structure. It had formerly been a Consumer's Beverage for 43 years, Neil Kavanaugh, owner of the parcel, said.

"Consumer's Beverage moved into an adjacent building, with the front at 3025 Sheridan Drive," Kavanaugh said, adding that the new Consumer's Beverage site officially opened on April 30.

His family first opened a Consumer's Beverage in 1948 on Genesee Street in Buffalo and opened on Eggert Road in 1963. With beer merchandise growing, Kavanaugh said the business needed more space and after a search, moved across the parking lot to 3025 Sheridan Drive.

He said it was an easy move, out the back door of the old building and into the back door of the new one.

"The redevelopment of Eggertsville is consistent with the Comprehensive Master Plan," Hopkins said. "The Master Plan encourages the revitalization of commercial plazas that are vacant or outdated."

Final plans for the AAA service center were not available but Hopkins said he anticipates it will include light automotive repair services.

Kavanaugh said he estimates Dunkin' Donuts will begin demolishing the 2155 Eggert Road structure within a few weeks. He added that the structure will have a similar design to the Transit Road and Wehrle Drive location.

The Town Board tabled the rezoning six weeks ago, stating it wanted to follow a procedure for amending the Master Plan. According to the Town Board, the rezoning remains consistent with the adopted Master Plan.

"I think this project is great for Eggertsville. It has waited a long time for redevelopment," Council Member Shelly Schratz said.