Arby's coming to Bristol

Bristol’s thinking about Arby’s.
The fast food retailer that specializes in sliced roast beef sandwiches is among the stores slated to move into The Shoppes at Larson Farms on Route 6, opposite Wal-Mart.
Arby’s Restaurants of Piscataway, N.J., the owner, is seeking permission from the city’s Zoning Commission to modify approved plans slightly to improve its proposed drive-through lane and parking.
Arby’s is one of the few widely known fast food franchises that hasn’t yet got an outpost in Bristol, which is already home to two McDonald’s, a Wendy’s, a Taco Bell, two Burger Kings and more.
Arby’s has a number of restaurants in Connecticut, including stores in Waterbury, Plantsville, Berlin, Newington and Cheshire. The closest is 8 miles away.
The former Larson family farm property will house the Arby’s, a bank, an L.A. Fitness Center and a sit-down restaurant.
The Arby’s will need a 2,930-square-foot building while the unidentified other restaurant on the site is more than twice as big. In the past, officials have said it is likely to be a Chili’s Grill & Bar.
City Planer Alan Weiner noted in a public hearing last spring that there is “a certain irony” in having both an Arby’s and a fitness center on the site.
The 1379 Farmington Ave. property is owned by WL Associates, a partnership between the Larson family, which ran a farm there for generations, and Stephen Wasley, who owned a car dealership next door. L.A. Fitness has four other branches in Connecticut. Its fitness center will take up 45,000-square-feet.
Arby’s, an Atlanta-based chain which has been around since 1964, has more than 3,500 restaurants around the world.
It touts itself as “the place for people hungering for a unique, better tasting alternative to traditional fast food.”
“ Serving one-of-a-kind menu items, Arby’s is well known for slow-roasted and freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches, Arby’s Chicken Naturals, and famous Market Fresh sandwiches, wraps and salads, made with wholesome ingredients and served with the convenience of a drive-thru,” according to the company’s website

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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com