Nice N Easy set to show off plans for Norwood location
NORWOOD - The village could soon be more than just a one-gas-station town.
Developers of a Nice N Easy convenience store have targeted a spot on Route 56 near the outskirts of the village for their newest location.
Initial plans call for a 4,500-square-foot convenience store and gas station, similar to ones in Watertown and Gouverneur, to be built at 72 South Main St., the current site of Doran’s Garage.
If the plan were to go through, developers would buy the property from the owners and demolish the garage before building the Nice N Easy, according to Mayor James H. McFaddin.
The store would join Sunoco as just the second gas station in Norwood.
“We have been looking at Norwood for a couple of years, looking for the right site to come along,” Edward J. Valentine, owner of Valentine Stores, Watertown, and developer of the project, said.
The Norwood location would be the fifth Nice N Easy location in St. Lawrence County, joining two stores in Ogdensburg, one in Gouverneur and a Canton shop, which is still under construction.
According to Mr. Valentine, initial plans call for a 4,500 square-foot store in Norwood, slightly smaller than the project in Canton.
Four fueling dispensers for a total of eight fueling positions would also be included.
Mr. McFaddin said it was still too early in the process to have formed an opinion about the prospective project as he has yet to see the site plans. But initial reports show there is a market for the store, according to the mayor.
“Being located on Route 56, indications are we can easily support a business there,” he said.
The mayor was first approached by developers three months ago.
The St. Lawrence County Planning Board will review initial site plans and a request for a special use permit on Thursday.
Once the board gives their comments on the project, the plans will come back to the village for review by its planning board.
In the meantime, the owners of Doran’s Garage continue to negotiate with officials from Valentine Stores.
The company is moving at a relatively quick pace, Mr. Valentine said, hoping to get through the planning process this spring.
If all goes well, construction on the gas station and convenience store could begin in May and open in July.
Founded in 1980, the Nice N Easy chain has spread throughout central and northern New York.
The Canastota-based company has more than 80 stores throughout the state.
