The Cornwall community has welcomed its new supermarket with open arms. Key Food closed its doors several months ago, leaving locals without a place to shop. Although it had changed hands several times, the store had been a village mainstay for more than five decades.
“We”™ve had our eyes on it for two years,” said Chris Jennings, who, along with brothers Chris and Ed, negotiated a long-term lease with the property”™s owner in early 2010. They started gutting and refurbishing the space, right down to its five layers of flooring, putting over $1 million into the renovation.
Cornwall Farms opened with fanfare on Nov. 12, filling the parking lot with customers. The 15,000-square-foot store is an oasis for seniors, many of whom no longer drive.
“The old store was really not pleasant to shop in, but it was the only game in town,” said Bank of America manager Nancy Zak, whose branch is located in the Quaker Avenue plaza. “As time went on, it became more and more rundown. Even though it was in poor shape, when it closed, it left a big gap in the mall for the tenants as well as for residents. It”™s a pleasure to see the parking lot filled again and to have a brand new store that is clean and cheery with quality fruits and vegetables. It has made the shopping center complete, so I think all the tenants here will benefit from its opening.”
Cornwall middle school teacher Matthew Keller agreed. “It”™s great to have a store here again, especially a beautiful, well-kept store like Cornwall Farms. It”™s big enough to have a full line of items but small enough to get in and get out with your purchases.”
Lisa Laurenzano, who worked in another store in the shopping center, had a front row seat to the five-month renovation and was amazed at the brothers”™ dedication. “I”™d get out of my job at 9:00 p.m., and they”™d still be in working inside. They wanted it to be a first-class place to shop ”“ and that”™s exactly what they”™ve created.”
Laurenzano now works alongside the brothers with other customer service representatives ”“ the word “cashier” is no longer part of the equation, since the staff is cross-trained to learn the entire business ”“ and said the Jennings brothers are a “pleasure to work for. They make us feel like family, not just employees. It is especially wonderful to see our seniors able to shop again and that prices are reasonable. You don”™t realize how much a supermarket means to your community until you lose it.”
The store, said Chris Jennings, employs 45 full- and part-time people, the majority of them local residents. The brothers own two other food stores in Mahopac and Pleasant Valley.
The new owner declined a photo opportunity. “The real ”˜stars”™ are the people who work here,” he said. “They give it their all, treat the customers with courtesy and make shopping a pleasant experience. We may have given the town a new store, but they are the ones giving people a reason to smile and come back.”
Cornwall Farms is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. “The reception has been phenomenal,” said Chris Jennings, who lives in Yorktown Heights. “It”™s a good feeling to know you”™ve brought something positive to a community.”
