At this week’s Greenwich Planning & Zoning meeting the commission discussed a pre-application for Just Salad, a 28-seat restaurant that would operate in consolidated spaces used by AT&T and Do’s Hair Salon.
Both stores are in the LB zone in Cos Cob Plaza at 498 East Putnam Ave, adjacent to a residential neighborhood.
The commission was concerned about turnover given the busy street and nearby intersection, compounded by Uber Eats and other food delivery operators.
Representing the applicant was Michael Thomasen who said Just Salad was proposed as a restaurant rather than fast food. He said it would require substantially less parking than the prior use of the space, which was particularly driven by the hair salon.
He said the restaurant parking requirement would be 11 spaces and previously that requirement was for 28 spaces.
It would operate similarly to three restaurant business models in Greenwich: Chopt, CAVA and Chipotle – almost identical to Chopt.
“We would prefer to be viewed as a restaurant,” Thomason said, though the application notice referred to fast food.
Thomasen said the client operates locations in other towns throughout the state, with the closes being Westport and Fairfield.
Lunch business (11:30am to 2:30pm) would have higher traffic than the dinner business (5:30 to 7:30).
P&Z chair Margarita Alban talked about peak demand for parking in relation to the other businesses in Cos Cob Plaza: Veterinary Emergency Group operates 24/7 and both Shaolin Studios and Mathnasium offer evening classes.
Alban said fast food is parking requirement is one parking space for every 2 persons whereas a restaurant requires one parking space for 3 persons, reflecting higher turnover rate for fast food than restaurant.
“You’ve got to make space for the folks coming in to pick up,” she said. “And we’re seeing more and more of demand for take out and delivery vehicles. The world changed since 2020.”
Commissioner Nick Macri said the 2 spots in front of the site were unsafe because they require the driver to back out into the right of way of East Putnam Avenue.
“It would seem to me that lots of parking in the back is one of the safer bets. You do have a back door. One thing I would suggest is working on that back door location from the parking lot,” he said. “And instead of it being just a back door, create it as a better, more primary entrance. Get a sign. Get rid of the hedge. Stripe the asphalt so you really know it’s there.”
Also he said the plaza’s signage is incongruous with the sign program approved by the Architectural Review Committee.
“What I’m seeing is there are signs on all sides of the building. They are huge. They are lit,” Macri said. “Maybe revised your signage so that it works with the approved sign program. ARC needs to look at this.”
P&Z director Patrick LaRow said the sign for Cos Cob Plaza likely encroaches onto the state’s right of way and DPW will likely recommend a solution.
Mr. Thomasen said the landlord was aware of that.
Alban asked the applicant to consider the peak hours that coincide with the restaurant use, how those will work and what will be the demand.
See also:
Just Salad: Restaurant Proposed in Cos Cob Plaza at Former AT&T Store and Hair Salon
Jan 26, 2026
