Rochester Business Journal

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. confirmed Tuesday the recent agreement to purchase the last property in the way of its plans for a new East Avenue store.

Located behind the store, Fountain Bleu Coiffures agreed to the purchase, enabling Wegmans to submit alternate plans to the city of Rochester next month.

“We won’t know a construction schedule, or opening date, until all approvals are received. That process will take several months, at a minimum,” said Jo Natale, Wegmans director of media relations. “The earliest possible time when the store could open is 2012, but again, we can’t say for certain without approvals.”

Wegmans officials declined to disclose the length of negotiations with Fountain Bleu or the purchase price of its East Avenue storefront.

Wegmans’ existing store, one of its busiest in the region, is spread across 42,000 square feet. The company’s original plan was to build a 105,000-square-foot store, with 90,000 square feet on the first level and 15,000 square feet at mezzanine level.

“Acquisition of the beauty salon is likely to mean that the first floor will be bigger by about 5,000 square feet. However, they are in the process of working on those plans as we speak,” Natale said.

The store’s second floor will feature a café and seating.

After construction, parking also will be expanded. Today there are 202 parking spaces in front of the store, and 68 spots for employees behind. The new store will have 366 customer parking spots and 100 spaces for employees in an underground parking garage.

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