Zoners Ok Plans For Two City Grocery Stores

Staff Writer

Lancaster city zoners this week approved plans for twoneighborhood grocery stores.

Lolita Haverstick received permission Monday to add a cafeseating area to a grocery store she is planning at 237 W. Lemon St.

That space, owned by the Boys and Girls Club, has previouslyhoused the club's Auction Inn and an Internet cafe.

A special exception was needed for the eating area. A grocerystore was permitted by right in the mixed-use district.

Haverstick said she plans to operate a full-line grocery store inthe 1,990-square-foot space. She hopes to offer as many local andnatural food products as possible.

About 100 square feet would be used for the eating area, whereHaverstick plans to offer salads, coffee and other light fare. Take-out foods would also be available, she said.

"We feel it's a good location and we feel that a lot of peoplecan benefit from us," she said of bringing the store to thenorthwest city neighborhood.

A name for the store has not been selected and no opening datehas been set, she said. Painting and other renovations will need tooccur before the store can be opened, she said.

The store was granted permission to operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.daily.

Also approved was a grocery store at 945 N. Plum St.

Alessandro Sgro said his company, Bacco Wine & Spirits, alreadyoperates a wholesale business at that location.

Bacco imports foods and wines from Italy and sells them to localrestaurants and grocery stores.

The company is considering using a portion of its space for aretail outlet to sell imported foods directly to the public.

No decision has been made to proceed. Seeking the use variancefrom the zoning board was the first step in that exploratoryprocess, he said.

In other action, the Zoning Hearing Board also approved:

Banners to be placed on the former Lancaster Press building, atNorth Prince and West Lemon streets. The banners, at 105 square feeteach, will advertise Garden Spot Village's plans to buildcondominiums in the building.

A special exception for a nightclub at 50 N. Queen St. The clubis in the space formerly occupied by the Ad Lib Cafe, theUnderground Railroad and Meritage restaurants.

The new venture will be mostly a restaurant, but will offerdancing, comedy and jazz music on varying nights, said JenniferWynn.

A pharmacy to occupy an empty College Row building, at 701Harrisburg Ave. The building, owned by Campus-Lancaster, L.P., willhouse a CVS store.

The renovation of the former Boys and Girls Club building, at 622Rockland St., into an elementary school by the School District ofLancaster. The former clubhouse will house students from FultonElementary School while that school is being renovated.

bharris@lnpnews.com