City Market Considers Expansion in Burlington's Old North End

Burlington, VT – Burlington’s community-owned food cooperative is considering expansion into the city’s Old North End. For many years, Members have asked the Co-op to open a City Market in this area of town that’s part of the Co-op’s over 43-year history.

The auto parts store located at 242-244 North Winooski Avenue (next to the Central Market and across from the McClure Multigenerational Center) closed several months back and the property is currently for lease. This spring, City Market worked with a consultant to forecast potential sales for a Co-op at this location and has been working closely with Redstone, who recently purchased the building.

City Market has tentatively signed a lease agreement with Redstone on this space. This agreement gives City Market’s management team until October 24, 2016 to conduct some additional due diligence before committing to the full term of the lease. The space at 242-244 North Winooski Avenue includes 6,000 square feet upstairs with an additional 6,000 square feet in the basement and a 2,000 square foot outbuilding. If City Market were to move forward with this location, they anticipate opening as early as the fall of 2017, following the planned grand opening of the South End store.

City Market’s General Manager, John Tashiro, shares his excitement for this potential next phase of expansion. “Our Members have been clear that they’d like us to have a presence in Burlington’s Old North End and we’re eager to complete our due diligence on this new location. Redstone has been a great partner in the process of exploring how this location could be beneficial to our Members. They’ve also been responsive to our need for a flexible timeline, given all the current work we’re doing on our South End plans as well.”