EXPANSION
Budwey’s to open in Newfane
NEWFANE — Grocer Frank Budwey, who already owns stores in North Tonawanda and Buffalo, confirmed this week that he will open a new Budwey’s grocery in Newfane this spring.
“We’ve purchased the property and will spend about $1 million on new equipment and another $250,000 on improvements,” Budwey told The Buffalo News by phone Wednesday while on vacation in Mexico.
As is the case with his Buffalo store, Budwey will co-own the Newfane operation with Peter and Paul Lamperelli.
“We plan to open between May 1 and June 1 and expect to hire about 80 employees, with 25 of those full-time and 55 part-time,” Budwey said.
Budwey would not say how much he and the Lamperellis paid for the 17,000-square-foot, former ShurFine store at 2555 N. Main St.
The Popp family had operated a grocery at the site for more than 30 years, closing the doors in January 2008 due to economic conditions.
The Popps had leased the site from Herald Ford Inc. of Andover, which owns several grocery stores around the state. Budwey said the company’s decision to sell the property, rather than lease it to him, “was a key factor” in his decision to set up his second store in Niagara County.
Budwey had explored the possibility of opening a grocery store at this same site last February, but decided by March that he was “too limited” in what he could do under a lease agreement.
“We couldn’t do this the right way a year ago, leasing the property, because every time you turn around, you need to spend another $40,000 here [on renovations],” he said. “But the landlord made an offer [to sell] we couldn’t refuse.”
Budwey also said last winter that he needed to devote his energy to fighting the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in North Tonawanda, where the Budwey family has operated a grocery store for 80 years. That fight continues.
The family still maintains a 39,000-square-foot store at 535 Division St. in North Tonawanda, and has run the 51,000-square-foot store at 416 Kenmore Ave. in Buffalo since 2005.
“Frank really hasn’t missed a step here,” said Newfane Supervisor Timothy Horanburg. “He’s moving forward. This will be really nice for Newfane. I know a lot of people who live here who go to his stores to buy his meats, and they’re top-notch. He has very competitive prices and he’s very mindful of the people. He’s a great asset to our town.”
Sue Neidlinger, president of the Newfane Business and Professional Association, added, “I’ve heard the rumors about this and to get a store the magnitude of Budwey’s would be so good for our economy. It’s a wonderful, welcome addition.”
Budwey said he hopes renovations will begin in the next couple of weeks.
“We need a new parking lot, a new roof, new heating, air-conditioning and electric,” he said. “We also need new walk-in freezers, deli cases, ovens, and shelving. We’re spending $130,000 on the new registers alone, and we’re adding a sixth register lane.
“We’re going to clean up the inside and outside,” he said. “It’s all about the basics and we knew that years ago. The key to our success is giving good service.”
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