Wegmans Food Market is projecting the creation of up to 500 new local jobs at its new Harrison store that is expected to be built at 106-110 Corporate Park Drive.
According to Kim Goergen, a representative for the privately owned regional supermarket chain, the company is approximating that between 400 and 500 positions will be produced if the town approves the construction of its first supermarket in Westchester County. She added the company expects that at least 180 of those positions will be full time.
Additionally, Goergen said Wegmans projected that 200 construction jobs will be created when the company begins erecting the development.
Wegmans is a chain headquartered in Gates, New York, which is located near the city of Rochester. The company, which owns 92 stores across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, is known for selling locally sourced food and has operated since its founding in Rochester in 1916.
The proposal calls for the construction of a 125,000-square-foot, 2-story grocery store, which will also include a café area, at the Corporate Park Drive location. Normandy Real Estate Partners, which owns several other properties along the town’s “Platinum Mile” area, has partnered with the family-owned supermarket to construct the chain’s first store in the Lower Hudson Valley region along the Interstate 287 corridor.
“The jobs aspect [of the project] is going to be wonderful for the town,” said Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican. “It’s a plus for the area, and we’re happy to be moving full-speed ahead on this.”
The proposal has also accrued support from the Westchester County Association, which champions programs and initiatives aimed at helping businesses create jobs. The organization is spearheaded by the Economic Development Task Force, a committee that includes representatives from private-sector businesses in the county.
At the moment, the only thing holding up the proposal from applying for several other permits is the approval of a zoning change that will allow the company to operate in the special business district of Harrison.
The land planned for construction is located in an SB-O district, which requires special approval from the Town Council. That zoning code restricts buildings to be constructed up to 4 stories high.
Goergen said that the company is expecting to have 95 locations by the end of this year. Wegmans is planning to open a second location in the New York metropolitan area along Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Admiral’s Row, which is located along the East River, by 2018.
The Town Council is expected to approve the zoning change on May 4.
