Skip Navigation

RFH 2010, Cover Stories, Colgate News

What's Next for Former Parry's?

Wed, Aug 31, 2011

The Hamilton Initiative continues to consider what to do with 20 Utica St. storefront.

What's Next for Former Parry's?

What's the future hold for one of the village's prime pieces of business real estate?

It's owner remains unsure, but still is hard at work cleaning and fixing up the place.

Earlier this year the Hamilton Initiative -- Colgate's corporation created to invest in the downtown -- purchased the large Utica Street property that formerly housed Parry's. The initiative made the purchase, in part at least, to help make possible Parry's move to an expanded location to what was the former Grand Union supermarket on Rte. 12B North.

At one point, the initiative considered breaking up the 9,000-square-foot space to accommodate a number of small businesses. It would have functioned as an incubator of sorts to help new businesses get started.

Now, Colgate's VP for Community Relations Joanne Borfitz says the initiative is not certain what is going to become of 20 Utica St.She said there are "not lots of people knocking down our doors" looking for retail space.

Borfitz did, however, say that Colgate is proceeding at full speed to fix up, clean up and improve the space.

The progress thus far includes:

  • repair of some of the brickwork;
  • cleaning up the grounds at the rear of the building;
  • painting the back wall of the building (see photo);
  • removing the large overhang that covered the sidewalk across the entire front of the building;
  • cleaning the inside of the building;
  • and preparing to install awnings across the front.

"There is a lot to do in advance of the next phase, whatever that is," said Borfitz.

She said the initiative is "constantly looking at ideas" about what is to become of 20 Utica St. but that nothing concrete has been settled on as far as its future use. A number of suggestions have been made, but Borfitz said it is too early to comment on anything specific. She did say that the initiative's hope is to create something that complements the existing businesses and creates foot traffic in the downtown.

For the short term, Borfitz said the university is working on creating some attractive displays to fill the front portion of the store.

Please login to post your comments.