Holley mayor says he’s reaching out to grocery stores to fill Save-A-Lot

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 14 September 2016 at 9:58 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Save-A-Lot store in Holley will close on Sept. 17 after 4 ½ years in Holley.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Save-A-Lot store in Holley will close on Sept. 17 after 4 ½ years in Holley.

HOLLEY – Mayor Brian Sorochty says he is reaching out to grocery store operators and economic development officials to fill the impending void when Save-A-Lot closes in Holley on Sept. 17.

Sorochty said during Tuesday’s Village Board meeting that he has been in contact with Jim Whipple of the Orleans Economic Development Agency and Orleans County Legislators John DeFilipps and Ken DeRoller about the Save-A-Lot closing.

“I’m not sure what the village can do,” Sorochty said about the privately owned property.

The mayor has reached out to locally owned grocery stores in the area including the Alabama Holley Farms store in Basom (Genesee County) and Dash’s Market in Clarence (Erie County). He said the Alabama Holley Farms did not show an interest and he had not yet heard back from Dash’s.

“I will try to find grocers if someone gets me names and numbers,” Sorochty said.

He also updated the community on other issues, including the First Niagara bank closing. Despite efforts by local officials, Key Bank has made a final decision to close the First Niagara branch in Holley early next month.

“They have given final notice that they are vacating the property,” Sorochty said.

The towns of Murray, Clarendon, Kendall, the Village of Holley, Holley Central and Kendall Central Schools and members of local fire districts met several times over the summer to see if they could convince Key Bank to keep the branch open. A letter from all concerned parties was sent to Key Bank officials and signatures gathered on a petition. Sorochty met personally with Key Bank officials and local, state and national representatives were asked for support in the effort.

The building is privately owned, Sorochty noted. “They are motivated to get a new tenant. I have spoken with the broker.”

The broker has had some interest in the property, but more interest is expected once the property is vacated, the mayor said. The village will be interviewing with other banks and will move their accounts. Sorochty said the Town of Clarendon has already moved to Five Star Bank.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: A public information meeting is being planned later this month on development plans for the old Holley High School.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: A public information meeting is being planned later this month on development plans for the old Holley High School.

Regarding the old Holley High School, a public information meeting is planned for Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Home Leasing of Rochester is working to acquire the property for possible restoration/renovation into mixed use including senior housing and space for Village of Holley offices.

Sorochty said the exact time and location of the meeting are being determined, but Home Leasing will be in attendance to bring the public up-to-date regarding their plans in advance of a planning board public hearing in October.

In another long-standing issue in Holley, Sorochty said the village and its Village of Holley Development Corporation (VHDC) have both signed the latest agreement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency to transfer ownership of the eight Diaz homes in the village to the VHDC.

He said actual transfer of the ownership could come in six to eight weeks, following a closing process. The VHDC will then work to market and sell the properties to get them occupied once again and back on the tax rolls.

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