BOARDMAN — Asbestos removal and demolition of the former TCF National Bank branch at the corner of Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard has begun to make way for another coffee and doughnut store.

Boardman-based Spice Mill Inc. will open a Dunkin’ — the company’s 12th in Mahoning and Trumbull counties — sometime in the first half of 2021.

“We looked at multiple sites over the last probably five years, and so we’re glad to finally get the right site,” Caleb Watters, vice president of operations for Spice Mill, said.

The little more than 1-acre parcel at the corner of the busy intersection — the northern gateway of Boardman and the southern gateway of Youngstown — was acquired by the Western Reserve Port Authority for $10 in January with plans to redevelop the land.

On Wednesday, the board agreed to a lease with Spice Mill and gave permission to its executive director, John Moliterno, to seek financing to build the 2,200-square-foot store with drive-thru and indoor seating enough for 16 to 18 people.

Last month, the board signed contracts with Environmental Protection Systems LLC of Girard to remove the asbestos and with ProQuality Land Development of Campbell to demolish the building. An underground fuel storage tank also will be filled with concrete and sealed.

Construction bidding should be advertised next week, said Randy Partika, project manager and development engineer for the port authority.

“We will build the project for them, and they will be a tenant of our property,” Partika said.

Watters said the location checked all the boxes needed for the company, which plans to employ about 40 people at the store.

“We were looking for traffic; we are a traffic-driven business … and that is a busy intersection” Watters said. Also, the site is large enough for a “good-sized” drive-thru and is near a residential area so it “hit a lot of our criteria,” he said.

Said Krista Beniston, director of Boardman’s Zoning and Development office: “I think it’s going to be a great catalyst for additional investment in this area, and we really appreciate the partnership and leadership from the port authority on this project.”

Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank already operates an ATM at the site that can accommodate another retail tenant. The port authority is soliciting opportunities for the land, which is considered the site where Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt started.

“We will have a build-to-suit available site of 1,000 to 1,200 square feet,” said Anthony Trevena, economic development director for the port authority. “It could be a pizza carry-out and delivery. It could be different types of things, but of course it can’t conflict with Dunkin”s offerings.”

TCF Bank has moved across the street into a former PNC bank building.

rselak@tribtoday.com