A Look At What’s Coming In To Waterford

Curious about what is being built in Waterford?

Well, here is the total dispatch, thanks to an informational briefing by Town Planner Mark Wujtewicz at the Economic Development Commission meeting Wednesday night. All information in this report, unless noted, is attributed to him:

-Moe's Southwest Grill is moving into Waterford Commons, in the same strip where Subway and Cold Stone Creamery are located. Moe's is a national chain that serves burritos, tacos, quesadillas, salads, fajitas, nachos and rice bowls, according to the company’s website.

-Also at Waterford Commons, the store previously occupied by Namco (right next to Michaels) will be split into two separate stores. One will be a shoe store, and the second will be a $5 store, which is like a “high-end” dollar store, Wujtewicz joked.

-And finally at Waterford Commons, the bankruptcy of Borders will leave that space vacant. The owner of the strip is “aggressively looking” for a new tenant, although nothing has been found yet, Wujtewicz said.

-Brown and Brown, an insurance company, will soon occupy the former Starbucks store.

-The current owner of Illiano’s built the empty office building on Route 85 across the street from the spot Illiano’s is current located so that he could have his own location (he currently rents). The problem is the store took too long to complete, and he was forced to sign up for another year lease at his current location. He cannot move into the store until the lease runs out. In the interim, he is trying to rent out the building for office space.

-This information comes from Jillian Kuzyk, a public relations representative for the Crystal Mall:

Almost all the lower level has been removed (the old red tile remains), aside from the section in the food court and the area outside Macy’s. Old tile on the second floor near J.C. Penney has been removed as well, Kuzyk said.

Workers have begun laying the new tile on the first floor, near Sears, Kuzyk said.

Architectural Review Board

When a company changes its façade, such as what the owners of Waterford Commons are doing with Namco, it does not need to get any approval from the town, Wujtewicz said.

Wujtewicz said there have been discussions of implementing an architectural review board, to ensure buildings would fit into the atmosphere of the town. Wujtewicz said it was something he would like to do, although nothing has been established yet.

Also, no work has started yet on WOW Sports Bar (advertised as “like Hooters, only classier”) and Kobyluck, LLC, has yet to any plans for a quarry at 28 Industrial Drive.