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05/07/2020 12:00 AMThe anchor tenant for the proposed Indian River Landing Project has been officially revealed. When the development at the old Morgan School property opens, Big Y will be one of the first tenants in the plaza.
The Indian River Landing project was given the go ahead in March from Clinton’s land use boards which excited the public. Still, no official tenants on the site were named. Rumors swirled about two potential tenants: Big Y and Starbucks. The Harbor News/Zip06.com reached out to both companies and received the reply below from Big Y. A memo from Economic Development Commission Member Hank Teskey to the Town Council mentions Starbucks. Thus far Starbucks has not responded to requests for comment from the Harbor News.
Indian River Landing is a development by Greylock Property Group that will transform the 37-acre old Morgan School property into a mixed-use development. The development will consist of retail, restaurants, and a hotel in addition to Big Y.
The following is a May 7 press release from Big Y’s Vice President Corporate Communications Clair D’Amour-Daley:
Big Y Plans New Market in Clinton
Big Y Foods, Inc. has announced plans to open a World Class Market in the Indian River Shops located at 11 Killingworth Turnpike Clinton. This market would be approximately 55,000 square feet within the soon to be redeveloped 180,000-square-foot retail center. This location would be the 72nd Big Y market with locations throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Big Y maintains a presence as part of the Clinton community of Middlesex County, as this will be the chain’s second World Class Market joining its Old Saybrook store. The project will provide several opportunities for local contractors during construction.
More than 150 full- and part-time positions are planned at this state-of-the-art market that will rival the finest markets in the world with superior customer service, locally sourced fruits and vegetables, fresh sushi, numerous gluten free and organic items, along with other locally produced offerings.
“We are excited to announce this addition to our Connecticut community of stores,” said Charles D’Amour, Big Y’s president and CEO. “We look forward to bringing Big Y’s world class service, quality, and selection closer to shoppers in Clinton and surrounding communities.”
As a Big Y World Class Market, it will offer not only superior customer service but also a wide assortment of quality products and specialty items with added convenience in each department with a focus on saving customers time, energy, and money. World Class Market highlights include prepared meals including freshly made pizzas and rotisserie chicken dinners, fresh cooked to order fish and chips, a broad selection of specialty and local foods including a wide array of organic and gluten free, a full service butcher shop, and seafood direct from New England piers as well as an extensive produce department, which offers over 500 different items including organics as well as fruits and vegetables from local farms and orchards. Big Y produce buyers work with local growers throughout the year in order to be able to sell as much native produce as possible throughout the growing season.
The shopping center is being redeveloped and marketed by Greylock Property Group LLC of Mystic, with an anticipated opening in 2021. Indian River Shops at Clinton is the proposed redevelopment of 37 acres that served as home of The Morgan School for 65 years. Along with Big Y World Class Market, the development will include 65,800 square feet of tenant space, two or three restaurants, and a 90-room hotel.
“We at Greylock Property Group are extremely excited about this project. To bring a supermarket like Big Y to Clinton will have a profound impact on the local community and economy,” said Kenneth Navarro, partner of Greylock Property Group. “We are honored to be a part of this development and remain committed to making Clinton a remarkable place to live, work, shop, and dine.”
A company strongly committed to giving back to the communities surrounding its stores, Big Y donates food values at more than $4.5 million to local non-profit organizations, schools, churches and educational programs each year. Big Y also awards 300 scholarships worth $250,000 annually to academically outstanding students in their market area. Still another of Big Y’s educational initiatives, the Education Express Program, has helped more than 2,000 local schools earn over $11.5 million in teaching materials and educational equipment.
About Big Y Foods, Inc.
Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates 83 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including 71 supermarkets, Fresh Acres Market, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and 10 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with almost 12,000 employees. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as Employer of Choice by the Employers Association of the Northeast. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a “Y”.
About Greylock Property Group
Greylock Property Group is an experienced local developer, investor and manager of commercial and residential properties. The company is based in Mystic, CT and is currently focusing on the shoreline projects in New England. For more information contact Ken Navarro, kennethnavarro@comcast.net or call 860-918-3600.