Scooter’s Coffee to replace Smouse House

WASHINGTON — Developers plan to build a Scooter’s Coffee location, establishing a presence for the drive-thru coffee chain in Washington at the former location of the Winfield Smouse House, after the city council approved a cite plan from the company. Crews began tearing down the historic building Monday morning.

Project overseers said the state DOT was expected to sign off on the location’s traffic impact, with cars entering and exiting through access points on Madison Street and an alley to the north.

“As far as entrance and egress on the site, they’re fine with it,” Project Manager Krisandra Lippert said at a city council meeting Tuesday night. “We don’t anticipate any problems.”

Council Member Bethany Glinsmann said her traffic worries remained.

“I think heading southbound on Marion there to try and get on the four-lane, it’s already difficult to see … this is going to increase the amount of traffic to this area quite a bit,” she said. “I still have safety concerns, but I will trust the experts when they say it is safe.”

Mayor Jaron Rosien said the proposal for a new business in town was bittersweet for the community

“The property being demolished is on the historic register for the state of Iowa and went through multiple attempts at fundraising,” he said. “It’s been accepted that that is not economically viable, and it has only continued to dilapidate. So this is both exciting to see but sad to see at the same time.”

Lippert said she was sympathetic.

“When he said to me, that was a historic building, I was like, ‘No, no, no,’ but after I learned a little bit more, I understood,” she said. “I’m big into historic buildings … I respect your sentiment, I really do, and I’m sorry that you weren’t able to do whatever it is that the city wanted to do there.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com