Former Grand Union Location—

Caraluzzi’s Markets

Signs Lease At Eton Center

By Nancy K. Crevier

When Grand Union supermarket closed its doors in March of 2001, Newtown residents hoped that the space occupied in the Eton Center Shopping Center on Queen Street would soon be occupied by another business. But the more than 30,000 square feet of retail space remained empty and became increasingly run down. In April 2006, Brooks Pharmacy, also located in the brick building, shut down for business, leaving only Wachovia Bank in the west end of the space. Residents’ hopes began to dim.

But in July 2007, town officials hinted that a major redevelopment and reutilization of the Eton Center was under negotiation, setting off rumors among Newtown residents as to just what commercial entity would occupy the site.

Monday, February 4, Caraluzzi’s Markets of Bethel ended all speculation, announcing that the Eton Center Shopping Center in Newtown will be home to its third supermarket. The market is aiming for a fall 2008 opening.

Caraluzzi’s flagship market is located on Greenwood Avenue in Bethel and has been an icon there for nearly 60 years, where it was known until 2001 as The Bethel Food Market. A second store opened in Georgetown in 2002.

Mark Caraluzzi, president and CEO for Caraluzzi’s Markets, said Monday that he is very excited about entering Newtown and to be a part of the redevelopment in town. “We’ve always identified Newtown as an ideal market for our expansion plans,” said Mr Caraluzzi, who along with Jennifer Caraluzzi Dimyan, and Steven and Matthew Caraluzzi, is part of the third generation of the family to manage and operate the markets.

“We first spoke with the lessor of the former Grand Union, C&S, in 2001,” Mr Caraluzzi said, “but were unable to come to terms.” When Brause Realty out of Manhattan took back the lease from C&S last year, he said, the Caraluzzis pursued negotiations once again, resulting in a long-term lease to occupy roughly 35,000 square feet of the nearly 50,000 square foot building. GVA of Connecticut represented the owner, Brause Realty, Inc, in the transaction.

In an era of mega-supermarkets, including the nearby Big Y Supermarket in Queen Street Plaza, and Super Stop & Shop in Sand Hill Plaza, Mr Caraluzzi believes that the midsized Caraluzzi’s Market will succeed in Newtown by providing competitive prices, offering a broad variety of products, and most importantly, by remaining true to the principles instilled by his grandfather and Bethel Food Market founder, Anthony Caraluzzi, Sr, of exemplary customer service.

“We have gotten into new ventures and we change with the times,” said Mr Caraluzzi, “but customer service is still the center of our focus. Our success in past expansions shows that we can use reliable staff who understand what it is to be a Caraluzzi and we certainly feel we will be able to maintain a presence at each store.”

The new location will incorporate a produce department showcasing conventional and organic fruits and vegetables, as well as many locally grown products, and items from neighboring Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel; a selection of meats centered around Certified Angus Beef, Coleman All Natural Beef, Dakota Organic Beef, and USDA Aged Prime beef; a full-service kitchen providing freshly prepared meals to go; made on premises sushi; a full-service deli case showcasing Boar’s Head brand and Caraluzzi’s own line of deli products; natural and organic items throughout the store; imported and specialty food items; and a floral department.

In addition, Mr Caraluzzi is pleased to announce that the Newtown location will also include an extensive specialty cheese department, and an eat-in coffee shop with pastries and baked goods made on premises.

“Anybody who knows our markets knows that they are midsized and can offer depth and selection of items in an easier to shop format with very competitive pricing,” said Mr Caraluzzi. “It is really what sets us apart [from big box stores].”

According to Mr Caraluzzi, plans are still in the specification stage, and site plans and exterior façade plans will be submitted by the Eton Center’s owner, Brause Realty, Inc.

“We are very excited to have a signed lease for the site,” said David Brause, president of Brause Realty, Inc. “We have the wetlands approval, and the police approval, and we will be going to the Borough Zoning board  with site plans.”

Although Brause Realty, Inc has owned the Eton Center since 1961, C&S, a wholesaler for Grand Union and Big Y supermarkets held the lease until recently. “C&S bought the Grand Union leases out of bankruptcy, so we had to wait for those leases to run out before doing anything,” said Mr Brause, what he called “a frustrating experience. Basically, we have been sitting here for nearly four decades with no way to upgrade the site,” he said.

In seeking the right retailer to carry the center forward, Mr Brause said he believes that the Caraluzzi family business will be the ideal tenant. “We welcome the local business. Caraluzzi’s will bring a local flavor and they have a lot of ‘skin,’ that is to say they are vested, in the game,” said Mr Brause.

Brause Realty will be spending a significant amount of money revitalizing Eton Center, he said, including a newly paved parking lot, new landscaping, new traffic configuration, and a new façade, all to increase what he believes will be a positive shopping experience for Newtown residents.

Wachovia Bank will be moved into a freestanding building on the site, leaving approximately 15,000 square feet available in the building anchored by Caraluzzi’s Market for other retailers, said Mr Brause. “We definitely feel good about the prospects now that Caraluzzi’s has signed on,” he added.

The company is working with Hugh Sullivan, the borough’s engineering and architectural consultant. “Mr Sullivan is the master when it comes to Newtown architecture,” said Mr Brause.

Site plans were submitted Wednesday, February 6, to the Borough Zoning Commission by Bennett Sullivan Associates, Inc of Southbury.

If approved, the applications will be referred to Planning and Zoning for further consideration. Elizabeth Stocker, director of Planning and Community Development, said that the design will be scrutinized for compatibility within the community. “We certainly will be looking at the design, because [Eton Center] is in the Borough District and the shopping center needs quite some care.”