Charcoal Grill to be razed to make room for Chase Bank

The Grafton Plan Commission on Tuesday approved plans to demolish the Charcoal Grill building at the intersection of Washington Street and Port Washington Road to make room for a Chase Bank branch and a yet-to-be-determined business.

The owner of the property, Paul George,  said the change is bittersweet.

“I was one of the owners of the grill at one time and I worked to develop the property,” George said. “It has had its run. Staffing is real hard there.

“I think Chase will be good for the community and their plans look great.”

He is looking for a restaurant to fill the second proposed building, he said.

The bank building will be 3,245 square feet, including a lobby, offices, meeting rooms, employee lounge and restrooms, according to the plans.

A drive-through ATM on the north side of the building that is expected to handle 2,000 transactions a month was also approved at the meeting.

Plans do not include a traditional drive-up teller window.

Village President Dan Delorit and member Scott Uhen said the drive-through ATM arrangement, which includes one bypass lane, is awkward.

“I find the drive-through super convoluted,” Uhen said, noting that accessing the ATM requires traveling around most of the building.

Delorit said he was initially “puzzled” by the two lanes that wrap around the bank.

There will be two shifts and a maximum of five employees working each shift, the plans say. It is estimated that 35 customers will visit the branch each day.

The branch is expected to open by fall of next year.

Overall, the plans were warmly received by the commission.

“I know people who are excited to have a Chase Bank in the area,” member Mary Pat Fenton said.

Community Development Director Jessica Wolff said there was no direct public comments on the project, but noted general disappointment at losing one of the area’s few sit-down restaurants.

Plans include space for another 3,170-square-foot building, although only plans for the Chase Bank were considered at the meeting.

The Architectural Review Board will review the bank’s plans next month.

Chase requested permission from federal regulators to add a Grafton branch last July, according to press reports.

In March, the Plan Commission reviewed plans to construct a different 3,500-square-foot unnamed bank and a 5,000-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant on the Office Max site in the same shopping center.