Demolition Work Paves The Way For Wyckoff ShopRite

WYCKOFF, N.J. — Demolition work has begun at the planned ShopRite of Wyckoff site despite a pending legal decision regarding matter that began back in 2013.

The Appellate Division of the Superior Court is expected to rule shortly on a final appeal filed by Shop & Shop. The competing business has a store on Franklin Avenue and has continually challenged Inserra Supermarket's application to get a 62,000-square-foot store placed in the Boulder Run shopping center. An A&P supermarket used to be at the site.

CEO Lawrence Inserra Jr. said the company is "thrilled" to take the first steps toward opening the store next November.

RELATED: Superior Court Dismisses Stop & Shop's Objections To ShopRite's Wyckoff Application

ShopRite's application before the Wyckoff Planning Board dates back to 2010 when the first of what would eventually be 38 hearings on the application was held over two years. The board unanimously approved the application in February 2013, which kicked off the legal battle and series of appeals by Stop & Shop.

Shop & Shop contended that the board did not have jurisdiction to consider the application because "supermarkets" was not a permitted use in the zone, it said.

A three-judge Superior Court Appellate Division panel dismissed the final three counts of a 14-count appeal objection Stop & Shop filed against Mahwah-based Inserra, ShopRite's parent company. Stop & Shop filed another appeal and oral arguments in that case were heard last month. A decision is expected shortly, said Evelyn Weiss Francisco, an Inserra spokesperson.

Inserra owns 22 ShopRite stores in New Jersey and New York.

Send local news tips, photos, and press releases to daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Related coverage:

• Bergen County Superior Court Rules in Favor of Proposed ShopRite of Wyckoff
• Stop & Shop Sues Bergen County Over Wyckoff Supermarket Plans
• Ongoing Litigation Stalls Construction of Wyckoff ShopRite

Pictured: Renderings of the ShopRite store