New Grocery Store For Tyrone
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:47 am
Copied from the Altoona Mirror:
TYRONE - If plans fall into place, Tyrone residents soon will have a new downtown grocery store.
William McCartney and his wife, Rosalie, have reached an agreement with Tops Friendly Markets to purchase the former BiLo Foods store at 13th Street and Washington Avenue.
"We settled on a price, and about two and half weeks ago they accepted my bid for the store," said McCartney, former owner of the Tyrone IGA. "We are waiting for the sales agreement, then we can move forward."
The BiLo store closed in April after Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops purchased the building as part of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court-approved acquisition of a majority of The Penn Traffic Co.'s assets, including 79 supermarkets in a four-state area. Penn Traffic had filed for bankruptcy late last year.
McCartney, who has been in the grocery business since 1971 when he worked at the Bellwood IGA, said he had been talking to Penn Traffic officials before the company filed for bankruptcy. He then began discussions with Tops.
McCartney said he is working with Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. and is in the process of lining up financing for the purchase and renovation project.
"We will repave the parking lot, install new lighting and do some cleaning, painting and some revamping. It will take at least a month to get it ready once we get in," McCartney said. "If everything falls into place, we hope to open in September, but it could be October."
Mayor Bill Fink said he was pleased the former BiLo building will again become a full-scale grocery store.
"I think it is fantastic. There will be a lot of people who are really thrilled, especially the senior group here in town," Fink said. "It will be a major plus. I want to welcome the McCartneys back to town."
The new store will be named Country Market, McCartney said.
"Everything that they had there before will be there again," McCartney said. "The prices will be a little more economical for the consumer."
He said he hopes to hire 10 full-time and 20 part-time employees. He'll begin accepting applications at the store around mid-August. He said he wants to hire local people.
McCartney said he is pleased to open the grocery store.
"I really enjoy working with the people in Tyrone. It is frustrating for them not to have a grocery store and we saw this as a great opportunity. It has been a real inconvenience for them. This will be a lot better than it was before," McCartney said.
Fink praised those who stepped up after the BiLo store closed in April.
"The community came together. Save-A-Lot extended their hours, the senior center made vans available for people and Mac's Market chipped in to help people so they wouldn't have a problem getting food," Fink said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.
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TYRONE - If plans fall into place, Tyrone residents soon will have a new downtown grocery store.
William McCartney and his wife, Rosalie, have reached an agreement with Tops Friendly Markets to purchase the former BiLo Foods store at 13th Street and Washington Avenue.
"We settled on a price, and about two and half weeks ago they accepted my bid for the store," said McCartney, former owner of the Tyrone IGA. "We are waiting for the sales agreement, then we can move forward."
The BiLo store closed in April after Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops purchased the building as part of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court-approved acquisition of a majority of The Penn Traffic Co.'s assets, including 79 supermarkets in a four-state area. Penn Traffic had filed for bankruptcy late last year.
McCartney, who has been in the grocery business since 1971 when he worked at the Bellwood IGA, said he had been talking to Penn Traffic officials before the company filed for bankruptcy. He then began discussions with Tops.
McCartney said he is working with Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. and is in the process of lining up financing for the purchase and renovation project.
"We will repave the parking lot, install new lighting and do some cleaning, painting and some revamping. It will take at least a month to get it ready once we get in," McCartney said. "If everything falls into place, we hope to open in September, but it could be October."
Mayor Bill Fink said he was pleased the former BiLo building will again become a full-scale grocery store.
"I think it is fantastic. There will be a lot of people who are really thrilled, especially the senior group here in town," Fink said. "It will be a major plus. I want to welcome the McCartneys back to town."
The new store will be named Country Market, McCartney said.
"Everything that they had there before will be there again," McCartney said. "The prices will be a little more economical for the consumer."
He said he hopes to hire 10 full-time and 20 part-time employees. He'll begin accepting applications at the store around mid-August. He said he wants to hire local people.
McCartney said he is pleased to open the grocery store.
"I really enjoy working with the people in Tyrone. It is frustrating for them not to have a grocery store and we saw this as a great opportunity. It has been a real inconvenience for them. This will be a lot better than it was before," McCartney said.
Fink praised those who stepped up after the BiLo store closed in April.
"The community came together. Save-A-Lot extended their hours, the senior center made vans available for people and Mac's Market chipped in to help people so they wouldn't have a problem getting food," Fink said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.
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In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to you and family also....great hearing from you. P.S. Still no grocery store.... and..... Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there.... miss youns !!
