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Trader Joe’s Update

By awatkinson | Published: April 23, 2012

The developer of a Trader Joe’s store in Colonie, New York, is asking town zoning officials to approve a variance for an attached freezer/cooler in back of the soon-to-open store on Wolf Road.

The zoning board of appeals is scheduled to consider the request May 3 at 7 p.m.

The variance is the last regulatory hurdle before the popular specialty grocery chain can open at 79 Wolf Road, its first store in the Albany region.

No opening date has been announced, though the company has said the store would open in the second quarter of this year. A Trader Joe’s spokeswoman did not return messages.

There are no local jobs posted yet on the Trader Joe’s website.

The company wants to build a 270-square-foot freezer/cooler in back of the store. As designed, the attached unit would only be 2 feet away from the property line. A 15-foot setback is required under the zoning code.

The ZBA meets at the Public Operations Center at 347 Old Niskayuna Road.

Columbia Realty New York LLC brokered the deal to bring Trader Joe’s to the Albany region.

A building that once housed OfficeMax has been converted into three storefronts, including a 13,000-square-foot space for Trader Joe’s.

A Sleepy’s mattress store opened last month in one storefront. The third space will be filled by SuperCuts, which is moving from Northway Mall, said Marc Goldstein, president of Columbia Realty.

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Best Buy Closing 50 Stores

By awatkinson | Published: March 29, 2012

Best Buy will close 50 big-box stores and step up plans for its new “connected store” concept.

The retailer, based in suburban Minneapolis, didn’t identify the big-box stores that are closing.

There are two Best Buy stores in the Albany area: Crossgates Mall in Guilderland, and in Wilton.

Officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The retailer is facing pressure to transform its business in a shifting retail market.

Best Buy Co. In. on Thursday posted a net loss of $4.89 per share for the fourth quarter on less-than-expected revenue of $16.6 billion. Excluding one-time charges, it earned $2.47 a share.

The company said it will continue rolling out its smaller Best Buy Mobile stores.

It has been a rough several months for Best Buy, which is facing increasing competition from the likes of Amazon.com and the shifting habits of smartphone-wielding, price-checking shoppers. It aggressively cut prices to hold onto market share, but same-store sales were still down during the holiday period. It also canceled some online orders during the holidays, sparking customer complaints.

And it faced a high-profile critique of its service and business plan in a Forbes.com story that went viral, prompting CEO Brian Dunn to mount an online personal defense of the company.

 

Source: The Business Review

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Albany’s Restaurant Week Coming Soon

By awatkinson | Published: March 29, 2012

At least 15 restaurants will offer three-course meals for $20.12 during downtown Albany, N.Y’s restaurant week that runs April 21-28.

Some restaurants will offer additional specials, including student discounts, reduced-price drinks and appetizers, and gluten-free dishes.

For a list of participating restaurants and their menus, click here.

Diners are encouraged to make advance reservations after 2 p.m.

The bi-annual event is sponsored by the Downtown Albany Business Improvement district.

Georgette Steffens, executive director of the Albany BID, said the city’s restaurant weeks have had a combined economic impact of more than $4 million since the first one was held in 2004.

 

Source: The Business Review

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ShopRite approved in Colonie

By awatkinson | Published: March 28, 2012

Plans for a new ShopRite and gas station were approved by village officials in Colonie, New York, last night, according to the developer.

The planning commission voted in favor to allow the construction of the 70,000 square foot store and 14-pump gas station on the site of Otto Cadillac, said Joe Nicolla, president of Columbia Development Cos.

“We still have some conditions to meet but the board gave us approval,” Nicolla said. “We hope to be done with those conditions within the next 60 days.”

Nicolla spoke to The Business Review by phone late Tuesday night after the planning commission met. Village officials were not available for comment.

Construction of the store and gas station would take about a year.

Otto Cadillac plans to move to the former Saturn dealership nearby.

The project had been controversial, as some property owners objected to the noise and traffic that will be generated by the development.

Nicolla told the village steps will be taken to minimize the impact, including erecting sound-buffering walls and installing landscaping.

Columbia Development worked with ShopRite to open a store in Niskayuna last fall, and is building two others in Albany and Bethlehem for the New Jersey-based chain.

ShopRite is making an aggressive push to take on the area’s dominant chain, Price Chopper, after a 20-year absence from the area.

“We’re very excited,” Nicolla said of the Colonie site. “We think this is a great addition to the region. Competition is good for the marketplace.”

 

Source: The Business Review

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ShopRite in Colonie?

By awatkinson | Published: March 27, 2012

The question of whether a ShopRite will be built on Central Avenue in Colonie, New York, could be settled tonight.

The village planning commission is meeting at 6:30 p.m., just four days before a deadline it faces to vote on the project, said Pat Hurley, village clerk.

The commissioners must take action within a specified time period after the public comment period ended, Hurley said, unless an extension is approved by the village and the applicant, Columbia Development Cos.

“I expect a vote tonight,” Columbia President Joe Nicolla said.

Planning Board Chairman Chris Dennis could not be reached for comment.

ShopRite wants to build a 70,000-square-foot supermarket and 14-pump gas station on the site of Otto Cadillac. The car dealership, in turn, would move to the former Saturn dealership nearby.

The proposed supermarket has upset some neighbors and property owners who are concerned about the noise and traffic.
Nicolla has said Columbia Development would erect walls and landscaping and take other steps to minimize the impact of the development.

ShopRite is owned by New Jersey-based Wakefern Food Corp., which is returning to the Albany area after a 20-year absence.
A ShopRite opened in Niskayuna last fall. Two others are being built, one in Albany and one in Bethlehem.

Source: The Business Review

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