Marcucio Gardens will be closing this year, and Town Fair Tire is eyeing the property for a new location.
The move comes after Town Fair Tire’s current landlord said it wanted to bring in a new national chain to the building at 646 New Haven Ave., according to Michael Barbaro, senior vice president for Town Fair Tire.
“They called and said they wanted to buy our lease,” which runs through 2017, Barbaro said.
The move would shuffle two long-time Derby businesses on New Haven Avenue (Route 34).
“We’ve been there for over 30 years. The store has done well, and we don’t like to close stores,” Barbaro said. “We wouldn’t have moved if the landlord hadn’t approached us.”
The Marcucio Gardens property — at 480 New Haven Ave. — is 500 feet away from the current Town Fair Tire spot, heading west on New Haven Avenue (Route 34).
Marcucio Gardens has been there for the last 15 years.
A message seeking comment was left with Hammond Real Estate — Town Fair Tire’s landlord.
Derby’s Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley said she wasn’t sure which company might be looking at the Town Fair Tire site, but said a GNC is also planning to come to that stretch of road.
O’Malley, in an e‑mail, called Town Fair Tire “a good partner.”
“They have worked well with the City of Derby and adjacent property owners to make an attractive building with minimal intrusion. The location is perfect for them and we are glad to have them remain in Derby,” O’Malley said.
A source told the Valley Indy CVS is considering moving to the Town Fair Tire building, which sits a few feet off Route 34. Currently, a CVS is nestled further back in the shopping center, near Snap Fitness.
City Approvals
Town Fair Tire plans to buy two parcels from Philip Marcucio — the one on New Haven Avenue, where the business is located, and an open parcel of land behind it that has a retention pond for a development up on the hill.
Barbaro said Town Fair Tire plans to keep the undeveloped land as is. They plan to knock down the Marcucio Gardens building and create a new 7,000-square-foot building for Town Fair Tire.
The changes could take effect by spring 2014, he said.
“It’s not a done deal,” Barbaro said. “We still have to go through zoning in August. Our initial meetings were very good. We met with the neighbors, and they seemed to be on board with us moving. And we’re happy to be able to stay there.”
Click here to read minutes from the June 2013 Derby Planning and Zoning meeting, where the project was discussed.
Few Changes
Town Fair Tire will continue to offer the same tire and custom wheel service. But the building will get an upgrade.
“The store will definitely look different,” Barbaro said. “Our new look is much more modern. We still only do tires and related services for tires. We do not plan on adding any services.”
Barbaro wouldn’t say how much money the move will cost, but said the company owns the property for several of its 85 locations.
“I’ve met with Town Fair Tire a few times prior to them even starting their application,” said neighbor and former Derby Alderman Ken Hughes. “Based on what I’ve seen and heard so far, they seem very professional. They’ve covered all their bases. And they really seem to be looking after the neighbors and the neighborhood.”
Early concerns about noise and lighting were all addressed, Hughes said. He thought the meetings with neighbors before the zoning application process helped bring everyone on the same page before the official application was filed. For example, after Hughes expressed concerns, Town Fair Tire agreed to plant trees in a 25-foot buffer between their property and his.
‘Long Enough’
Marcucio Gardens owner Philip Marcucio said he is closing up after the last 15 years in Derby because he and his wife, Carol, plan to retire to Florida.
They’ll also keep their home in Derby, the city where Marcucio has lived for the past 70 years.
Marcucio said he told his handful of employees about his intent to retire last year. They’ve all secured new jobs, he said.
“I’ve been there long enough,” Marcucio said. “When I decided to retire, the business was offered to the children. They weren’t interested in it. They’ve all got their own jobs.”
Marcucio said he enjoyed some good times at the store, but is happy to move on. He plans to play golf three times a week, and visit Maine when it gets too hot in Florida.
“I’m just glad I’m retiring and (I’ll) try to enjoy myself,” he said.
