Big Y Announces Plans for New Location Near Granby

A new grocery shopping option will be conveniently located for Granby residents in the southern part of town.

Big Y, an independently owned New England supermarket chain, recently announced plans to open a new location in the north end of Simsbury.

In a letter sent to town officials on June 13, the company announced plans for a new 53,000 square foot Big Y World Class Market to be built on the former Wagner Ford property located at 1313 Hopmeadow Street, only minutes from the border with Granby.

The company plans to invest $12 million in the new location and expects to add 125 full and part-time employees to staff the store, according to the letter.

The announcement of the new store follows the town's loss of Andy's Market which closed its doors after 33 years in March. Fitzgerald's Foods and Stop & Shop are the two remaining supermarkets in Simsbury.

Big Y plans to construct the store in a manner that recognizes the history of the area and will use stones from an existing barn in the landscaping of the store's entrance. The company also aims to match the look of the town's existing lighting fixtures along Hopmeadow Street, according to the letter.

The company has proposed a connection to the bike path and will incorporate bike racks on the property. The proposal also includes the inclusion of mobile charging stations for electric vehicles.

Headquartered in Springfield, MA, the company currently operates 64 locations in Connecticut and Massachussetts.

The company anticipates opening the new location in the spring of 2014.