[Stylo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Believe it or not there just are not a lot of good sites for a large supermarket in these towns. They need sevaral acres of land zoned for commercial development. Supermarkets need to be surrounded by a large residential area to survive. The best sites are taken and the few there are may have restrictions preventing them from being developed with a supermarket. It is just not that easy. Jay

There is a vacant S&S in Orange as well as that large parcel that Stew's was sadly unable to build on, ironically because of S&S lobbying.

I wonder if S&S will hold onto that empty building or lease to a non-grocery retailer.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Stylo

There is a vacant S&S in Orange as well as that large parcel that Stew's was sadly unable to build on, ironically because of S&S lobbying.

I wonder if S&S will hold onto that empty building or lease to a non-grocery retailer.

There has been a vacant S&S for awhile now in a "good" Bridgeport location(Upper Madison). Is that one in Hamden that they recently shuttered vacant also?

[JayCT]

The Orange Stop & Shop is likely still controlled by them and they would never agree to allowing another supermarket there to compete with their nearby stores (West Haven and Milford). It is unlikely that a supermarket would ever be approved at the Stew Leonard's site in Orange since the project was turned down by P&Z.

As for the Madison Avenue Stop & Shop in Bridgeport, if Stop & Shop could not make it work there, what makes you think another one would? Also this is another case where S&S likely has a say in who goes there. They likely would not allow another strong supermaket to come in and take business from their Main Street store. Jay

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by JayCT

As for the Madison Avenue Stop & Shop in Bridgeport, if Stop & Shop could not make it work there, what makes you think another one would? Jay

It was working just fine for them, until they bought the lease of the former Shaw's a mile away on N. Main and opened a 2nd S&S at that location. Both stores were actually still doing fine, until S&S expanded/rebuilt their grotesque Villa Ave. Fairfield store, which ended up siphoning more customers away from Madison leading to its demise.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

It was working just fine for them, until they bought the lease of the former Shaw's a mile away on N. Main and opened a 2nd S&S at that location. Both stores were actually still doing fine, until S&S expanded/rebuilt their grotesque Villa Ave. Fairfield store, which ended up siphoning more customers away from Madison leading to its demise.

The North Main Street Stop & Shop was actually there long before they built Madison Avenue. What was interesting about this is that the sales at the North Main Street store did not go down as much as they thought when Madison Avenue opened even though the stores are only a mile apart. I think you are right though that once they redid the Villa avenue store, there was no reason for anyone from Fairfield to go to the Madison Avenue store. Between that and the fact that there is a very nice Stop & Shop up at Town Hall Plaza in Trumbull, the Madison Avenue store was pretty much doomed to fail.

Also I am not sure why you think Villa Avenue is "grotesque". It is like most newer Stop & Shop stores which I think are very nice. I think they did a very nice job fitting it into an existing plaza which already had a bowling alley and line of stores adjacent to it. Jay

[DrPizza]

Thanks! Personally, I feel like I would be happier in WNY because there is more to do (Lake George, Niagara Falls, Finger Lakes, etc).

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Computergeek

Thanks! Personally, I feel like I would be happier in WNY because there is more to do (Lake George, Niagara Falls, Finger Lakes, etc).

You do realize that these are kind of long drives from Rochester. Within the same driving time of New Haven you have equally many, if not more options. Jay

[krelithous]

Originally Posted by Computergeek

Thanks! Personally, I feel like I would be happier in WNY because there is more to do (Lake George, Niagara Falls, Finger Lakes, etc).

um yea until it snows out

[krelithous]

congratz and good luck on the move and your new job

[krelithous]

one day i'll pay a visit back to the east coast