1 year later, former Fairway still empty
Many in city would like to see another South End market
STAMFORD — A year after the closing of the sole supermarket in the city’s South End, the search continues for a successor.
Since Fairway Market shuttered in late August 2020 at 699 Canal St. in the wake of its second bankruptcy filing in the past five years, the approximately 80,000square-foot property has stood empty. The landlord has not yet announced any new tenants, and other supermarkets have not publicly expressed interest in the site. But many in the city, including several of the mayoral candidates, said that they would welcome another grocery store in the South End.
Building and Land Technology, the property’s owner, declined to comment for this article. BLT is also the developer of the mixeduse Harbor Point complex, which includes 699 Canal and also encompasses several thousand apartments built in the past 10 years.
The remnants of Fairway, which operated about 10 years on Canal, are still visible. An exterior sign for Fairway’s wine and spirits store that stood next to the supermarket clings to the building, but with “Fairway” etched
out and pieces of the marker’s green background peeling off the wall.
Several supermarkets rule out South End expansion
Despite Fairway’s departure, the site does not appear to be a candidate for expansion for many of the supermarket chains that operate in the area.
Among those ruling out opening at 699 Canal is Stew Leonard’s. Its nearest grocery store is 10 miles east in Norwalk.
“We need a lot of people coming to the store, and I don’t see how we can get a lot of people down at that site,” Stew Leonard Jr., CEO and president of the family-owned company, told Hearst Connecticut Media. “Anything down near the water limits the circle of customers you can attract.”
Leonard said, however that his company is exploring the possibility of opening a wine-and-spirits store in the northern half of Stamford.
After Wegmans opened a store last year 13 miles west in Harrison, N.Y., some local shoppers asked whether the company might consider expanding into Connecticut. But a Wegmans spokesperson said this week that “we are not currently planning to expand into Stamford.”
Stop & Shop — which runs the largest supermarket chain in Connecticut, including two stores in Stamford — is not in the running either. A company spokesperson said that “we do not currently have any plans for expansion to Canal Street.”
ACME, whose locations include a Greenwich establishment and a Stamford store on High Ridge Road near the Merritt Parkway, also ruled out an opening in the South End. The company said in a statement that it “is continuously evaluating real estate opportunities. However, at this time we have no plans
to open a new location in Connecticut.”
Trader Joe’s also has a store on High Ridge Road, a couple blocks south of ACME. A message left for Trader Joe’s was not returned.
Grade A ShopRite is another major operator in the state, with grocery stores across southwestern Connecticut including several in Stamford. Its nearest supermarket to 699 Canal is a Super Grade A ShopRite that stands one mile east at 200 Shippan Ave.
A message left for Grade A ShopRite was not returned.
Other major supermarket chains in the state include Aldi, which has several stores in Hartford and New Haven counties and two in Fairfield County — in Danbury and Fairfield.
“At this time, we do not have any information to share about a potential Aldi
store opening in Stamford,” Chris Daniels, Aldi’s South Windsor division vice president, said in a statement. “As soon as there are any updates regarding Aldi stores in the Stamford area, we will reach out.”
Then there is Amazon, which last year acquired for $1.5 million the leases of two Fairway locations in New Jersey. Amazon owns Whole Foods Market, whose network includes stores in Darien and Greenwich. Whole Foods does not have an establishment in Stamford.
A message left for Whole Foods was not returned.
Other types of big-box stores might also be considered for 699 Canal, but existing ones in the city probably would affect the number of interested parties.
There is a CVS/Pharmacy in the neighboring block at 537 Canal. The addition
of another large homeimprovement store would also appear unlikely given that there is a Home Depot at 1925 W. Main St. on the city’s West Side.
In the meantime, the South End has several independent stores that sell groceries. In March, Harbor Point Organics opened at 14 Harbor Point Road.
Mayoral contenders advocate for new supermarket
Hearst also asked the four mayoral candidates to weigh in on the future of 699 Canal.
“The site was built and originally intended as a grocery store, so I’d like to see it re-open as a grocery store,” said Mayor David Martin, a Democrat who will face state Rep. Caroline Simmons in a Sept. 14 primary contest for their party’s nomination. “That said, it’s not up to the mayor to
decide, but I have confidence that the owners will be motivated to provide a new business or businesses that will greatly benefit the community.”
Simmons, who serves as the co-chairwoman of the state legislature’s Commerce Committee, said that “I've heard from residents that they would like to see another grocery store at 699 Canal, which would be a great source of jobs for the community too. And I would also support a community center in that location, providing services for Stamford families.”
Unaffiliated candidate Bobby Valentine did not recommend a specific successor to Fairway, but advocated for ample amenities for the South End.
“With thousands of new residents living in our South End and downtown neighborhoods, the city needs to prioritize services like schools and grocery stores that are accessible and convenient,” Valentine said. “These considerations should have been contemplated before zoning approvals were granted for new residential construction. As mayor, smart development will be a priority so that all our residents are afforded the opportunity to enjoy living here.”
Republican nominee Joe Corsello said that another grocery store is “much needed in the area.”
“To me, it makes the most sense to remain a grocery store and there’s a unique opportunity to be innovative since the building is just sitting there,” Corsello said. “How about bringing a year-round indoor farmers market to support local farms and small businesses?”