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Business & Tech

Phase One of Fresh Market Construction Underway

The former Little Saku building on the site has been demolished.

With all hurdles cleared on permitting and traffic issues, construction is proceeding rapidly on the new location of the Fresh Market grocery in the Nod Brook Mall.

The site at 315-321 West Main St. is taking on an entirely new character as the building housing the former Party City and Little Saku restaurant has been demolished to clear the way for the new facility.

The first phase of construction is being performed by Centerplan Construction, a Middletown firm. The company was hired by the Midwood Management Corporation, which does property managing for Nod Brook Mall. Centerplan will do the site work and put up the shell of the structure before giving way to the Fresh Market contractor for the interior work. The demolition was performed by Pickering Concrete of Orange, last week.

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The first phase of construction was estimated at a little over $2 million dollars according to the permitting fee calculation. The building permit, approved on July 7, 2011 covers site work and paving for the parking lot, as well as a 21,304 square foot shell of a building.

“There will be ample parking,” said Town Planner Steve Kushner. The minimum allowed by the approved site plan is 100 spaces but plans call for 110 immediately adjacent to the building.

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Terry Terragna, of Centerplan Construction, said the site work and shell of the building will most likely be completed by late October. Fresh Market hired contractor CM & D Construction of Wellesley, MA to complete the interior build-out of restrooms, fixtures, refrigeration and other finishes.

The Fresh Market chain of grocery stores was first established in 1982 in Greensboro, North Carolina and has grown over the years to 106 locations nationwide. The Avon location will be the second store in Connecticut. Fresh Market opened in Westport in October 2009.

The grocery store seeks to re-create the atmosphere of a European market, with a butcher shop, fish market, bakery, and fresh produce all under one roof. Though hiring has not yet begun for the Avon store, Fresh Market locations average 90 full- and part-time employees.

Kushner believes the grocery store is a welcome addition to the town. It is located in a commercial/retail zoning district, which allows the largest range of uses, but is specifically designed for grocery stores and restaurants.

The Nod Brook Mall has an existing traffic light allowing for both eastbound and westbound entry. 

“The location is right,” said Kushner, “it is a major, well established mall for Avon, and the signal light has been there for decades.”

Fresh Market Director of Marketing Andy Lewis said, “we are looking forward to becoming part of the Avon community. We are always looking for expansion opportunities in communities that appreciate quality food and outstanding customer service.”

Recalling his shopping experience at a Hilton Head, South Carolina Fresh Market, Kushner said their focus is on fresh products. They do not seem to have the established footprint style of the larger supermarkets and do not have major dry goods and boxed foods sections. He compared the store to a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods in scope and focus.

Wethersfield firm Moser Pilon Nelson serve as architects on the project.

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 10:58 p.m.

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