Adams Hometown Market at 656 New Haven Ave. in Derby will close Sept. 21, according to a prepared statement from the grocery store’s owner.
According to the statement, 16 full-time employees will lose their jobs along with 48 part-time employees.
“It is sad we are losing a grocery store in the convenient location for the area residents,” Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto said Wednesday. “The City of Derby will miss Adams as part of our business community.”
The announcement comes four months after a spokesman for neighboring Walmart announced the retail giant’s Derby store would close by July 29.
Future plans for the property were not immediately available. A review of recent minutes from Derby Planning and Zoning Commission meetings shows no new development applications for the property.
The two departures leaves a major hole on Derby’s Route 34 commercial corridor.
A message seeking comment was left Wednesday with the property’s leasing agent.
According to a statement from the store’s owner, Intercontinental Holding Company, Inc. of Cheshire, the store could not agree on a new lease agreement its landlord. The statement was received by the Valley Indy late Tuesday.
“Over the years, Adams Superfood had plans to remodel and upgrade the current facilities. Plans were drawn up and equipment was purchased to do this, however an acceptable lease agreement was never able to be reached to make this renovation happen,” the statement read.
The Adams store is slightly more than 40,000 square feet.
Valley Indy readers lamented the news Tuesday night on Facebook. Click the image below to read the comments on Facebook.
Two rumors emerged from the hundreds of comments posted by readers — that the property will be redeveloped into condos, or that grocery chain Stew Leonard’s is eyeing 656 New Haven Ave.
However, neither seems to be true at this point.
“As far as future plans on the private property, the (Derby Planning and Zoning Commission) has not entertained any applications, formally or informally,” the Derby mayor said.
And Meghan Bell, a spokeswoman for Stew Leonard’s, said Wednesday the company isn’t looking at Derby — though it’s nice to be wanted.
“Stew Leonard’s is focused on building our sixth store in East Meadow, N.Y. but we are always on the lookout for great new locations for potential stores,” Bell said in an email. “I don’t believe the 656 New Haven Ave property is on our radar at this time, but Derby is a great town and I know we have many shoppers in that area.”
Adams is owned by Intercontinental Holding Company, Inc. of Cheshire.
The store has been in Derby since 1996.
“The reason for the closure was a business decision based on the ending of the current lease, the store’s occupancy costs and poor sales performances over the past several years as well as increased competition in the Valley,” the company said in the statement.
The store’s owner said the company will try to help their employees search for new jobs, and will try to fill spots at other stores using Derby employees.
“Adams has assured me that the (Department of Labor) regulations have been followed in consideration of the employees losing the jobs,” Mayor Dugatto said.
“Adams Superfood wishes to thank their many loyal customers for their years of patronage,” the company’s statement read.
Adams will continue to operate stores in Shelton and Milford.
