We are hopeful that Shop Delight will refile its application for a supermarket on Middle Neck Road — and receives a better reception from area residents when it does.
The owners of Shop Delight had proposed the construction of a supermarket at the site of a former Rite Aid store in the Village of Great Neck Estates, which now sits empty.
Village of Great Neck Estates trustees were well within their rights when they rejected the application in July after the owners failed to file an amended application addressing concerns about parking and traffic — although we have some concerns.
Alan Stein, an attorney representing Shop Delight, had earlier said he had hoped to meet with village trustees to resolve those concerns. We hope that Stein was not discouraged from doing so.
The trustees’ decision was cheered by opponents of the project, who had expressed concerns from everything from increased traffic to trucks making deliveries to odors from cooking.
“Aside from the amount of traffic that would affect Middle Neck Road, there would have been a massive number of additional cars that would have come there to shop,” said Bruce Funk, president of a co-op located next door
At a time when empty storefronts detract from both the visual and commercial appeal of villages across Great Neck, opposing stores that actually attract customers makes no sense.
The fact is the area could use a conveniently located supermarket – especially one that has the ability to draw a large number of shoppers.
Shop Delight already operates a popular location at Welwyn Road in Great Neck Plaza a little more than a half a mile away.
Not only would attracting large numbers of shoppers to Great Neck Estates be a good thing for the owners of the supermarket, it would also spur an in increase sales at surrounding stores — which could certainly use the help.
And it is not as if there was never any commercial businesses in the area.
The businesses district along Middle Neck Road in Great Neck Estates existed long before many of the residents moved there. They were well aware of the trade offs of living in or adjacent to a business district. It seems a little late for them to complain now.
The loss of a new supermarket or any other store that attracts customers does not just affect shopping in the Village of Great Neck Estates.
Stores line Middle Neck Road in both the village of Great Neck and Great Neck Plaza. And what happens in Great Neck Estates affects.
More shoppers driving down Middle Neck Road to a market means more opportunities for other merchants on the road to attract business.
Great Neck — like other villages across the North Shore — benefit from a village feel and sense of community in which local businesses have long played a major role.
Village trustees and residents can and should address potential problems that can arise with a new business.
But they should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water.
