Press|Cuozzo inks 3,800 s/f lease at Walgreens Plaza

Hamden, CT Stephen Press, SIOR, of Press|Cuozzo Realtors has negotiated a long-term lease for a 3,800 s/f freestanding building with drive-thru located at 1697 Whitney Ave. The building, formerly occupied by Bank of America, will soon become the newest location for Common Grounds Specialty Coffee House.

The building is located within Walgreens Plaza, a well-known retail center in the Spring Glen section of town, a neighborhood recognized for its residential base and steady retail demand along the Whitney Ave. corridor.

Following interior and exterior renovations, Common Grounds Specialty Coffee House is projecting a fall opening at the site. The coffeehouse plans to take advantage of the building’s existing drive-thru configuration, which is increasingly sought after by quick-service and café operators.

Press represented the landlord and tenant in the transaction.

“Most commercial real estate deals, unlike wine, don’t age well,” said Press. “This transaction started with an initial showing of the space during COVID and ultimately came together years later, demonstrating the persistence often required to bring the right tenant to the right location.”

The lease marks a successful repositioning of a former bank branch building, a property type that has seen growing demand from restaurants, cafés, and service-oriented retailers seeking freestanding buildings with drive-thru capabilities.

Walgreens Plaza benefits from its location along Whitney Ave., one of the primary retail and commuter corridors connecting the town and nearby New Haven.