02038.com » Food Shopping

Big Y gets OK to build new store in Franklin, MA

Warren Reynolds — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:57:14 +0000

The Franklin, MA Planning Board has approved construction of a Big Y World Class Market in Franklin, Massachusetts. After hearings stretching back to early 2010, the Board this week granted the special permit and site plan approval needed before construction of the supermarket could get underway.

Big Y in Walpole, MA

New life to a vacant site

The food super-store will be located at 348 East Central Street, Franklin, MA, site of several eateries over the past few decades, including the old Welick’s Restaurant.

Future site of Big Y in Franklin

The existing structure had sat vacant for years, becoming an eyesore.

There had been speculation that Market Basket might be eyeing the site, but Big Y secured rights to the location.

More jobs and competition

Here’s a video showing the future location of the new Big Y and how it will be in proximity to the Horace Mann Plaza in Franklin, one of several shopping plazas serving the Franklin, MA region:

It has been estimated that, when it opens in 2012, the new Big Y in Franklin will add between 150 and 175 jobs to the Franklin, MA economy.

Many food stores serve Franklin

One of the nice features of Franklin, MA is that it is blessed with a wealth of supermarkets and food stores serving the area.

The choice and convenience supplied by all these stores greatly enhance the quality of life in Franklin, Massachusetts.

Below is a list of the supermarkets and food stores in the immediate Franklin area:

Whole Foods in Bellingham, MA

Super Stop and Shop, Franklin, MA

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Franklin, MA

Market Basket, Bellingham, MA

Shaw’s Supermarket, Franklin, MA

Star Market, Medway, MA

Homebuyers: Franklin, MA has a lot to offer! Click to learn more about Franklin.

Big Y seeks to open in Franklin, Massachusetts (MA)

Warren Reynolds — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:48:40 +0000

You might want to forget about a Market Basket in Franklin, MA anytime soon! Big Y Foods has announced plans to open a supermarket in Franklin, Massachusetts, according to a business brief published yesterday by the Worcester Business Journal.

A client of mine provided additional information on this proposal, based on her attendance at a recent meeting of the Franklin Planning Board. Minutes of this meeting have not yet been published, so there is nothing of substance to report from the presentation made to the Board at this time.

Old Welik’s restaurant site

Rumors have been swirling in Franklin for months about a Market Basket supermarket opening on the site of the old Welik’s Restaurant site (most recently the location of a failed Chinese buffet eatery).

It appears the rumors were half right: the site is the old Welik’s location, but the food store will be Big Y.

Details from the Worcester Business Journal

The WBJ article gives what details are public now:

“The store has been proposed as a 55,000-square-foot supermarket and site plans have been submitted for approval with the town. Big Y estimated that the project would cost about $18 million.

The store will employ between 150 and 175 people, according to Big Y.”

Note that this is just a proposal submitted to the Town of Franklin for approval and permitting.

Price Chopper coming too?

New speculation has a Price Chopper also coming to Franklin, MA.

Nothing is official yet, but a source I trust has provided me with some interesting information that indicates such a store opening is in the early planning stages.

We’ll keep our feelers out about this possibility and report what develops.

Market Basket opening in Franklin, MA?

Warren Reynolds — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:35:07 +0000

There are rumors all over town that Market Basket may be opening a new food supermarket in Franklin, MA.

ChrisW35 sent in the following question today to 02038.com:

“I heard some rumors of Market Basket coming to Franklin – I hope that really happens. I think it would good for Franklin . . . I’d like to know is this true?”

Chris, I have heard the rumors also and would welcome having the store in Franklin!

Horace Mann Plaza?

Some speculation has centered on the former TJMAXX site at Franklin’s Horace Mann Plaza.

The biggest question with that location would seem to be if it would be big enough for a supermarket?

The Shaw’s store already at that shopping center is very large.

Former Welick’s Restaurant site?

Other speculation has the new Franklin Market Basket going in at the old Welick’s restaurant site.

This long-gone eatery was a very popular Franklin, Massachusetts steak and seafood establishment that closed approximately 15 years ago.

A series of restaurants have tried to make a go of it at that location and failed there.

Most recently the site was a Chinese restaurant.

This parcel is very large with good frontage on Rte 140. There’s a very spacious paved lot behind the existing building.

Truth behind the rumors?

I’ve searched online about Market Basket opening in Franklin, MA.

I found nothing definite on this anywhere; if the store in Franklin is in the works, it has not been publically announced yet.

Besides the store Market Basket already has in Bellingham, MA, the company just opened a new store in Oxford, MA.

It has announced plans to open a store in New Bedford, MA in 2010 and several others in New Hampshire.

Great to have Market Basket in Franklin

So we have nothing definite to report today about the new Market Basket supermarket in Franklin, MA beyond the many rumors bouncing around.

But rumors often are based on good insider information . . . we’ll keep an eye out for any news on this in coming months.

It would be wonderful to have the store right in Franklin!

Editor’s note:

As of March 15, 2010, it looks like the Welick’s site will become home to a Big Y foodstore.

Copyright ©2010 02038.com

Whole Foods Market

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:59:27 +0000

Whole Foods is located just a short drive from Franklin, MA in the Charles River Centershopping plaza in Bellingham, MA.

Whole Foods is the other end of the universe from Market Basket: beautiful store, great service, lots of high-end organic and natural food choices. What’s interesting is that the two stores are practically across the street from each other.

It speaks well for the economy and demographics of the greater Franklin, MA area that there is a Whole Foods store here!

Whole Foods Market
255 Hartford Ave
Bellingham, MA 02019
508-966-3331‎
http://wholefoodsmarket.com

Super Stop and Shop

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:48:09 +0000

Stop and Shop is a well-established grocery chain in Massachusetts. The Stop and Shop in Franklin, MA is located in the Franklin Village Shopping Center just off Exit 17 of Route 495.

This site became a “Super” Stop and Shop a few years ago, so the selection is excellent and the store modern and spacious. Many Franklin, MA residents do their food shopping here.

Super Stop and Shop
Rt. 140 W. Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038
508-520-4102
http://www.stopandshop.com/

Shaws Supermarket

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:34:40 +0000

Shaws Supermarket is located in the Horace Mann Plaza in Franklin, MA.

Years ago, Shaw’s positioned itself as a low-cost provider of quality foods. A few changes of ownership later, this chain seems to be geared to more premium offerings. This particular store has a beer and wine retailing license – selection and prices are pretty good!

Shaws Supermarket
255 East Central St.
Franklin, MA 02038
508-520-6880
http://www.shaws.com/

BJ’s Wholesale Club

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:25:23 +0000

BJ’s Wholesale Club is great for grocery and personal care items in Franklin, MA. It seems to accommodate smaller bulk buying than other wholesale clubs: you don’t have to buy huge quantities of each thing to save money. And they keep milk prices low!

BJ’s in Franklin, Massachusetts also sells home and garden offerings on a seasonal basis, basic clothing, books, as well as TV, camera and computer equipment.

Besides the low-cost milk, what’s really good about the the BJs in Franklin, MA is that it sells gasoline.

Prices are about 10 cents per gallon lower than local competitors.

Cheap gas and milk alone make BJs well worth the membership fee!

BJ’s Wholesale Club
100 Corporate Dr.
Franklin, MA 02038
http://www.bjs.com/locations/clubs/105.shtml

Market Basket

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:53:36 +0000

Market Basket is a low-cost food retailer with many stores in eastern Massachusetts; the store serving Franklin, MA is just to the north of Franklin off Exit 18 of Route 495 in the Stallbrook Marketplace in Bellingham, MA.

I love Market Basket! The store is certainly not upscale, but the quality of the produce and meats is good and the prices are a generally a lot lower than at other supermarkets in the region.

Market Basket
274 Hartford Ave
Bellingham, MA 02019
508-966-3044
http://supportmarketbasket.org/default.aspx

Star Market

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:46:11 +0000

Star Market in Medway, MA is large, modern store in Medway Commons, a shopping center that recently opened.

Star Market is fairly convenient to Franklin MA residents, especially those living in the northern part of town.

Prices at this store appear a bit high, but this is the only major food retailer in Medway Center . . .

Star Market
65 Main Street
Medway, MA 02053
508-533-8661
http://www.shaws.com/
(Owned by Shaws; chain does not seem to have its own web presence any more.)

Hannaford Supermarket

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:37:05 +0000

This site has been the location of a series of supermarket brands over the years: Victory and Star Market come to mind.

Clean, large store; prices seem OK!

Hannaford Supermarket
7 Medway Road
Milford MA 01757
http://www.hannaford.com/home.shtml