By JACKIE MAJERUS
Press Staff
BRISTOL – Whether the Bristol Discount Food Outlet remains on the 17-acre mall property in the future will be the decision of the developer, several city development officials said.
"We can't tie anybody's hands," said John Leone, a board member of the Bristol Downtown Development Corp. and the president of the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce.
"Ultimately, the buyer of the property will have to determine what makes sense," said Jonathan Rosenthal, the city's economic development director.
The city is in the process of having the mall demolished. There are no immediate plans to raze the DFO building next to the mall – and no specific plans for the mall property as a whole – but the store is on a month-to-month lease with the city and faces an uncertain future.
Shoppers have signed petitions asking the city to let DFO continue to operate. Store manager Bob Veilleux said there are more than 5,000 signatures – something that Mayor Art Ward said didn't surprise him.
"We recognize the market," said Ward, who said he would like DFO to stay in the area. "We recognize the need."
But Ward said the developer's perspective will be the determining factor as to whether DFO can remain in place on the mall property.
In a "very amiable" meeting with DFO and its parent company Bozzuto's this week, Ward said the city and the grocery store found common ground.
"We came to an understanding," said Ward. "We've vowed to give them 90 days notice."
Ward said DFO will let customers know that whether the store remains is in the hands of an as-yet-unknown developer.
Leone said that the city-owned mall property, which includes the freestanding DFO, must be viewed as a whole, not in pieces. He said the entire parcel must be a planned development, with the good of the community in mind.
"We need to be careful that we don't put ourselves into a situation that we were in a year and half ago with Ocean State," said Leone.
Ocean State Job Lot, a longtime anchor store in the mall, was the last of the tenants to leave after the city issued eviction notices. The Rhode Island-based closeout retailer held on through several court battles, arguing that the store's lease allowed it to stay. When the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled for the city last year, the store packed up and left.
DFO store manager Bob Veilleux said his store has a month-to-month lease. He said Bozzuto's, the Cheshire-based IGA grocery store chain that owns DFO, would like to stay, but understands that it can't fight the same court battle that Ocean State did.
DFO can remain in place as long as there's not a developer in the picture, said Frank Johnson, chairman of the BDDC, and Leone.
"You can't set yourself up for a delay in this project," said Leone. "That would be terrible."
While Ward said he would be "more than willing" to help Bozzuto's find an alternative space, he said the store owners aren't likely to get the $5 per square foot deal they have now.
"It would be a lot more," said Ward. He estimated that the rent would probably more than double.
Ward, Rosenthal and Johnson said the city could use a small grocery store downtown.
"We definitely understand the need for a store to service the community in that section of town," said Ward.
"The shoppers' concerns certainly are valid, as are the store's concerns," said Johnson.
The mayor said DFO meets the need for a "pedestrian-friendly" store.
"You do see a lot of people that walk to that store," said Johnson.
"It's clearly something that serves downtown," said Rosenthal. "It's desirable to have a grocery store downtown. The most important thing is there is something convenient to walk to."
Johnson said a medium-sized grocery store, like an average Bozzuto's IGA, would be a nice fit with the project."Whether it's that store in that location is an open question," said Johnson.
Leone wasn't convinced about the need for DFO or a grocery store on the site. He said there are about five grocery stores not far away on Farmington Avenue.
As for how people who rely on DFO's reduced prices would be able to cope financially if the store closed, Leone said, "That's not my problem."
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Press Staff
BRISTOL – Whether the Bristol Discount Food Outlet remains on the 17-acre mall property in the future will be the decision of the developer, several city development officials said.
"We can't tie anybody's hands," said John Leone, a board member of the Bristol Downtown Development Corp. and the president of the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce.
"Ultimately, the buyer of the property will have to determine what makes sense," said Jonathan Rosenthal, the city's economic development director.
The city is in the process of having the mall demolished. There are no immediate plans to raze the DFO building next to the mall – and no specific plans for the mall property as a whole – but the store is on a month-to-month lease with the city and faces an uncertain future.
Shoppers have signed petitions asking the city to let DFO continue to operate. Store manager Bob Veilleux said there are more than 5,000 signatures – something that Mayor Art Ward said didn't surprise him.
"We recognize the market," said Ward, who said he would like DFO to stay in the area. "We recognize the need."
But Ward said the developer's perspective will be the determining factor as to whether DFO can remain in place on the mall property.
In a "very amiable" meeting with DFO and its parent company Bozzuto's this week, Ward said the city and the grocery store found common ground.
"We came to an understanding," said Ward. "We've vowed to give them 90 days notice."
Ward said DFO will let customers know that whether the store remains is in the hands of an as-yet-unknown developer.
Leone said that the city-owned mall property, which includes the freestanding DFO, must be viewed as a whole, not in pieces. He said the entire parcel must be a planned development, with the good of the community in mind.
"We need to be careful that we don't put ourselves into a situation that we were in a year and half ago with Ocean State," said Leone.
Ocean State Job Lot, a longtime anchor store in the mall, was the last of the tenants to leave after the city issued eviction notices. The Rhode Island-based closeout retailer held on through several court battles, arguing that the store's lease allowed it to stay. When the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled for the city last year, the store packed up and left.
DFO store manager Bob Veilleux said his store has a month-to-month lease. He said Bozzuto's, the Cheshire-based IGA grocery store chain that owns DFO, would like to stay, but understands that it can't fight the same court battle that Ocean State did.
DFO can remain in place as long as there's not a developer in the picture, said Frank Johnson, chairman of the BDDC, and Leone.
"You can't set yourself up for a delay in this project," said Leone. "That would be terrible."
While Ward said he would be "more than willing" to help Bozzuto's find an alternative space, he said the store owners aren't likely to get the $5 per square foot deal they have now.
"It would be a lot more," said Ward. He estimated that the rent would probably more than double.
Ward, Rosenthal and Johnson said the city could use a small grocery store downtown.
"We definitely understand the need for a store to service the community in that section of town," said Ward.
"The shoppers' concerns certainly are valid, as are the store's concerns," said Johnson.
The mayor said DFO meets the need for a "pedestrian-friendly" store.
"You do see a lot of people that walk to that store," said Johnson.
"It's clearly something that serves downtown," said Rosenthal. "It's desirable to have a grocery store downtown. The most important thing is there is something convenient to walk to."
Johnson said a medium-sized grocery store, like an average Bozzuto's IGA, would be a nice fit with the project."Whether it's that store in that location is an open question," said Johnson.
Leone wasn't convinced about the need for DFO or a grocery store on the site. He said there are about five grocery stores not far away on Farmington Avenue.
As for how people who rely on DFO's reduced prices would be able to cope financially if the store closed, Leone said, "That's not my problem."
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
