After hearing of Porricelli's closing, First Selectman Tim Herbst and Economic & Community Development Commission Chair Scott Wich say Trumbull's economy is strong and a replacement will be found.
"Trumbull’s economic development is strong and the Town is committed to doing everything in its power to work with the property owners to fill this commercial space as quickly as possible," Herbst said Friday.
Porricelli's company owner Jerry Porricelli announced the closure the same day in a press release, but Herbst said it was the first time he had heard.
"No one from the Town’s government was contacted by the owners to alert us to the closure and we have not received any explanation from management as to the reasons for the closing of their Trumbull location," Herbst said.
"What is surprising about this action is that at the end of 2011, the owners of Porricelli’s elected to exercise an option to renew their lease for another five years. Earlier this year, the owners of the market approached the landlord to convey how the economy was affecting their business and how meeting their monthly rent payments was becoming a greater challenge.
"The landlords thereafter agreed to give the owners of the Porricelli’s temporary rent concessions that were intended to help them weather the current economic climate, until conditions improved. In speaking to the landlord, we have been advised that they were not informed by the tenant of this closure," he concluded.
'Porricelli's Has Not Had an Easy Year'
Economic commission Chair Scott Wich added, "Porricelli’s has not had an easy year. First, with the closing of its Old Greenwich location in August and now with the closing of its Trumbull location."
"It is truly unfortunate to see a well-regarded, family-run business like Poricelli’s leave Trumbull. However, the Town will be doing everything in its power to assist in bringing a new quality business to Trumbull Center. On behalf of the Town, I would like to thank the Poricelli family and wish them well for their contributions to the community," Wich said.
Numerous Patch Users said the family-run store, founded in 1950, was convenient and offered fresh foods. Trumbull's store opened in 2002, replacing the Grand Union. The two Greenwich stores closed in 2009 and 2012.
Herbst said he too was disappointed at the closure.
"However, we must now look forward and seek a suitable replacement for the benefit of our residents. Trumbull residents should know that if there was no optimistic future for this property, the property owners would not be making a multi-million dollar investment in the property’s rehabilitation," Herbst said.
In the last year, the plaza has lost Frances' Pastry and Trumbull Aquarium and Pets. Outside of the plaza, the town lost P.J.'s Garden Exchange on Madison Avenue, which was started in the late 1930s.
"Further, at the peak of the last construction cycle, Trumbull had 68 commercial and industrial construction projects underway, despite the current economic conditions we are facing at the state and national level," the first selectman said.
Trumbull Economic Development Director Ed Lavernoich could not be reached for comment Friday.
But numerous readers suggested that a Trader Joe's would be a good fit to replace the store.
In my opinion, you can only make it if you are a low cost large chain, or if you are smaller and offer lots of unique options (organic, or alternate foods/diets like Fresh Market in Monroe). In my opinion, Poricellis was destined to fail since it opened since it really met neither of those niches.
They had a stellar fish department -- much better than Shoprite and Stop and Shop. Very nice produce. When they ran a sale, it was a good price. Sure, they might have been more on other items, but they were a little local store and entitled to make a living. Grocery stores have very small margins. You wouldn't go there to buy a million things, it wasn't that kind of store. So, I disagree with HL, because I feel they did have a significant niche -- good service, knew their customers, great service, good quality fresh foods. All the businesses in that plaza will feel the impact, as well as us, in town. A Trader Joe's would be just wonderful, but my understanding is that the center is mismanaged and very high priced and TJ could get a better deal elsewhere, if, they are even looking in our area.
Trumbull needs better business all around. My husband and I moved here three years ago, and we're just beginning to start our family. I already feel that Trumbull falls short of our needs commercially, and it's an issue we're weighing while we consider whether it will be our home for the long-term. Bringing in a Trader Joe's would be a step in the right direction. Otherwise, I'm going to spend the next 20 years driving to FF to shop there. Or moving to a town that meets our needs might be the answer. We love Trumbull for other reasons, but we've noticed negative changes. Our first year here, we attended Trumbull Day, which was a cute, cozy fair by Hillcrest Middle School. It was followed by an impressive fireworks show. It now appears to be a multi-town driven carnival in the parking lot of the Westfield Mall. I have a definition in mind for the said transition of Trumbull Day, but will refrain from using it. Then we loved the idea of an annual concert right in the heart of our town. Well, that's proven a failure the past two years. We'd love to raise our children here, but we need to see improvements in the near future.
Right now what possible reason would anyone have to come to Trumbull other than to the mall?, (get off the exit, and right back on). We are not a very friendly town that 'invites' out-of-towners to participate in our community, other than an occasional concert. The trails/valley are great, but not enough access points/parking for our neighbors. Other towns have annual oyster festivals, italian festivals, irish festivals, etc., that draw people from all over the state to patron their town. These festivals are an opportunity for local small businesses to get their name out there, and prove their value within a community
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/location-requests-form.asp
Aaron perhaps you can confirm if this is true or not? It was a while ago, and I am not certain of who told me this.
Since Tim has been in office: Sewer debacle , No Trumbull Day , Concerts cancelled , Magnet school land swap that is not a swap , Loss of seating for Trumbull students in Magnet School , Dogs in Trumbull shelter no longer walked , Trumbull High renovations dragged on and on . Tim Herbst's bribe/threat for the Nature Commission to accept a million dollars to move off the Wagner Tree farm. Tim wants to take credit of mall renovations and tax cut ( home devaluations= increase in mill rate),well then he can step up and except some blame....yeah right! Tim is a divider, never letting a good crisis go to waste ( if he can make political gain. ) and never taking responsibility . He should have found a way to help Porricelli's stay here , that is what leaders do they find a way to make things happen , get people working together to solve problems. Wake up Trumbull !!!
The closure of Poricelli's is NOT a "failure by Tim Herbst," as they did not even ask for his, or the town's assistance as THEY, the owners, were making the decision to close their business, after already closing/selling their other two stores! I guess you don't even believe in the foundation of our nation, which is FREE MARKET Capitalism! If you wish to contradict that assessment, you might start by reading the Constitution, and if that is too difficult for you--then you could at least read Gail Jarvis' comments on the original Poricelli's closing article on Patch.
I agree with both you and gail on the free market issue, of which this issue is (for the most part). However, if the town and the 'people' of the town want Trumbull to remain a 'village' with small businesses and shops, we can help achieve this by encouraging a cultural infrastructure that supports these types of businesses. Instead a small group of vocal residents fight every new idea/proposal that is put forth in front of our boards and commissions, regardless of its merit. They just fear change, or believe any change is bad.