SYRACUSE — Tops Friendly Markets is attempting to open a grocery store on Pond Street in a building that Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. vacated earlier this summer.
Tops and its prospective landlord, Morgan Management, LLC, are seeking tax exemptions before opening a grocery store at the site, according to a news release from Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner. Morgan agreed to purchase the Pond Street location in July, weeks after Wegmans shuttered the store at the end of June.
Tops and Morgan want sales-tax exemptions on construction materials. Morgan is also pursuing exemptions from mortgage-recording taxes and property taxes from a payment-in-lieu-of-tax, or PILOT, agreement.
The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency must approve the tax deals.
“Tops has a strong commitment to the city of Syracuse and the Central New York community, and we are very interested in operating a Tops Markets at the Pond Street location,” Tops Markets President and CEO Frank Curci said in the news release. “While there is currently no final agreement in place, we have identified this location as a good fit within our current network of stores, one that would serve the North Side and give residents access to fresh, affordable food options. We are working closely with all parties involved to ensure the successful completion of this project.”
Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com