Tops Takes Over Jubilee Foods Location

Tops Markets, LLC said yesterday it would assume operation of the Jubilee Foods store at Kensington Avenue and Harlem Road in the town of Cheektowaga, N.Y. Tops entered into an agreement to lease the site after Horseheads, N.Y.-based Jubilee elected not to renew the lease upon its expiration and revealed plans to shutter the location as of later this month.

According to Frank Curci, president and CEO of Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops, “This store is in an ideal location, has great potential, and we believe we can offer customers a better shopping experience while also helping to execute our company’s overall growth strategy.”

Also as part of its expansion plans, Tops said last fall that it would also remodel and open a new location in the village of Spencerport, N.Y., outside of Rochester. That location is slated to open this summer.

The 27,000-square-foot former Jubilee store will close at the end of this month so that Tops can carry out an extensive multimillion-dollar remodel, and will reopen in the autumn under the Tops banner. The renovation will encompass new interior and exterior signage including a new storefront, décor, food cases, restrooms, flooring and lighting, with a goal of making the store as energy efficient as possible. Additionally, the grocer will install a Tim Hortons self-serve kiosk will and offer Tops brand products on shelves.

“It is not common practice for us to close stores during renovation,” noted Curci. “In this case, the extent of the renovations would have been a major disruption to both associates and customers. Keeping the store closed for a short period will allow for a faster, more efficient remodel.”

The approximately 65 employees currently at the Cheektowaga store will all be able applying for continued employment with Tops, according to the company. “Every effort will be made to work with UFCW Local One to offer all associates employment at surrounding Tops locations, if they desire,” said Jack Barrett, Tops’ SVP of human resources. “When the store reopens as a Tops Markets, associates will also have the option of interviewing for positions at the new location.”

Tops operates 131 full-service supermarkets — 126 company-owned and five franchise locations — in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania, and employs over 13,000 associates.
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