Town Has Few Options for Vacant Stop & Shop Building

Stonington town officials and residents have a long list of businesses they would like to see go into the vacant Stop & Shop building at 37 S Broad St., in Pawcatuck.

A Trader Joe’s, a cheese company, perhaps even a gym were just a few of the visions . Unfortunately, they may also have a long time to wait before any of those ideas become a reality.

The old Stop & Shop building has sat empty ever since the company relocated its Pawcatuck location to 91 Voluntown Rd., almost three years ago. The building could be empty for another two years.

“We have a lease obligation until 2014 and we are continuing to market the space,” said Stop & Shop New England Division spokesperson Suzi Robinson.

Robinson refused to comment on the details of the lease or the marketing of the space.

According to , part of the terms of the lease include a non-compete clause for any sublease. Basically, this means that Stop & Shop has the right and most likely would refuse to sublease the spot to any business with more than 30 percent of food sales as Stop & Shop would see that as competition to their Voluntown Road location.

“My preference would be for a Trader Joe’s or some sort of natural, organic food store,” Haberek said, adding he wanted a new business in that spot that would provide services to the immediate residents.

Many residents seem to share Haberek’s preference. Of the nearly 35 comments that responded to Stonington-Mystic Patch’s request for ideas for the spot, 14 of them wanted a Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s said they do not have any confirmed plans for a location in the area.

Haberek said Trader Joe's, however, is actively looking for new locations around the country, and it is his understanding that Stonington’s population of college graduates not only meets their standards but impressed the company.

The First Selectman said he has consulted with the state attorney general’s office on Stop & Shop’s history of what he calls predatory leases.  In Rhode Island there is speculation that Stop & Shop’s leasing practices were at least in part responsible for the closure of Warwick’s Rhode Island Mall.

While Haberek said the town and the state attorney general’s office are continuing to monitor the old Stop & Shop building he also said that according to the attorney general’s office, Stop & Shop is not in any legal violation.  

So, if not a food store could one of the ideas such as fitness center work?

Haberek said there have been a number of inquires into the spot including by Marshalls and a fitness company. The problem becomes that most businesses want to sign a 20-year lease and Stop & Shop can only offer a two-year sublease. After those two-years, Haberek said the business would have to renegotiate and probably pay more, which seems to be dissuading some businesses from taking the risk.

In all likelihood it’s looking like the town and residents will have at least another two years to speculate on what business should go into the old Stop & Shop building.