Grafton’s OfficeMax on Port Washington Road is on its way out, and in its place: a Chick‑fil‑A and a Cafe Zupas that locals say could reshape one of Ozaukee County’s busiest retail stretches. The village board signed off earlier this month on partitioning and rezoning the property so the two restaurants can sit on separate pads where the office‑supply store now stands. Plans on file call for each spot to have a two‑lane drive‑thru, new access work along Port Washington Road and a construction window later this year.
As reported by TMJ4 News, neighbors are already picking sides. Jo Clemons summed up one camp with a simple, “So we’re excited,” while others are less thrilled about what two new drive‑thru operations might mean for traffic at the already busy Port Washington Road intersection. Regular shopper Hilary Ellis said the site “does need to be redone,” even as she worries the pace of new development has changed the neighborhood’s overall vibe.
Plan and timeline
According to documents filed with the Village of Grafton, the OfficeMax parcel at 1346 Port Washington Road would be split to create a 5,304‑square‑foot Chick‑fil‑A and a 2,916‑square‑foot Cafe Zupas, each outfitted with a two‑lane drive‑thru. The filings outline proposed hours, staffing levels and parking totals, and they anticipate construction beginning in August 2026 with an opening target in February 2027. Those dates are still conditional on final approvals and permits.
Neighbors split on traffic
A staff memo highlighted several code variances that drew the Plan Commission’s attention, including parking counts that exceed village standards and shortfalls in required green space, and suggested tools such as shared parking with nearby retailers to ease the strain, as reported by Ozaukee Press. Commissioners also pushed for smaller canopies over Chick‑fil‑A’s drive‑thru lanes and other design tweaks to cut back on encroachment into required yard areas. Neighbors say they like the idea of a freshened‑up lot, but many worry that the improvements will funnel even more cars into an intersection that already feels maxed out.
Permits and variances
The developer has requested variances related to parking, lighting and setbacks as part of the certified survey map and site‑plan review, according to village records. Staff have scheduled appearances before the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Architectural Review Board before any building permits are issued, per filings with the Village of Grafton. Those sessions represent the final checkpoints before construction can move forward.
Developers and village officials say last‑minute design tweaks and Architectural Review Board sign‑offs will determine the precise schedule, and any adjustments to turn lanes or crosswalk protections would be wrapped into the public improvements tied to the project. As TMJ4 News noted, the openings depend on those approvals, but some neighbors are already mentally mapping breakfast runs and lunchtime shortcuts once the drive‑thrus arrive.
