International supermarket operator Lidl plans Yonkers store

The international supermarket operator Lidl, which has its corporate headquarters in Germany is proposing to open a supermarket in Yonkers. Lidl’s U.S. operations are conducted under Lidl Us LLC, which is based in Arlington, Virginia. The new store would be in the Central Plaza Shopping Center at 2550 Central Park Ave. in Yonkers.

According to Lidl, its first location opened in 1973 in Ludwigshafen, Germany. It was a small store with only three employees and stocked around 500 products. Lidl now operates in 32 countries and employs more than 341,000 people.

In June 2015, Lidl established U.S. headquarters in Arlington and it currently operates more than 150 stores along the East Coast.

According to attorney Taylor Palmer of the White Plains-based law firm Cuddy & Feder LLP,  the shopping center’s owner Central Plaza Associates LLC is proposing the adaptive reuse of space at the shopping center that would combine smaller stores to create the footprint for the proposed 29,208-square-foot supermarket. The smaller stores most recently were occupied by David’s Bridal, Avenue, and Marshalls Shoe Shop. Epstein’s Kosher Delicatessen currently operates in one of the stores. The applicant is seeking site plan and special permit approval.

Palmer said that the shopping center’s owner also plans to demolish the separate 13,664-square-foot building that was previously occupied by Modell’s Sporting Goods, although that is not related to Lidl wanting to open a supermarket at the shopping center. The shopping center also is asking for approval to make improvements that include modifications to the traffic circulation in the existing off-street parking areas.

Palmer said that there is no tenant lined up for the Modell’s site right now. He indicated that a restaurant with a drive-thru would be a possibility for the site and that if and when a tenant is lined up an application to build would be filed with the city. He said that until then the site would be kept as an open grass area.

“The shopping center itself is about a 12.66-acre site. It’s located on the east side of Central Park Avenue and north side of Fort Hill Avenue,” Palmer said. “Back in the 70s this was occupied by a prior supermarket so we’re effectively just adaptively reusing the existing storefront and demising the space for this new Lidl Supermarket.”

Palmer characterized Lidl as a discount grocer that emphasizes high-quality food at low prices. He said they carry name brands as well as their own Lidl brand products.

Palmer said there will be a new building facade and new signage for the supermarket. He said there will be improvements to the refuse areas, crosswalks and new cart corrals.

Marc Petroro of JMC Planning, Engineering, Landscape Architecture & Land Surveying PLLC said, “We are proposing to reconfigure the surface parking lot to enhance vehicular and pedestrian flow, providing some additional pedestrian crossings … and pedestrian signage as well.”

Petroro explained that there currently are 732 parking spaces, which will be reduced to 696 by proposed changes. He said that only 577 parking spaces are required under the city’s zoning and that if a restaurant did open at the Modell’s site the parking still would be adequate to comply with the zoning requirements. He said that there would be one loading dock and it would be for use only by the supermarket.