Niskayuna, N.Y. — Niskayuna Town Supervisor Joe Landry today provided an update on redevelopment plans at ShopRite Square, located at the corner of Nott Street and Balltown Road.  Formerly known as St. James Square, the neighborhood shopping plaza has undergone a major transformation in the past year since landing the Capital Region’s first ShopRite store.

Landry announced that the vacant former Friendly’s building is under contract to be purchased by an existing owner at ShopRite Square.  The proposed purchaser plans to demolish the building to create additional parking, and to connect the front and rear sections of the shopping plaza.  The proposed purchaser also plans to construct a new building facing Nott Street East that will replace the space lost by the demolition of the former Friendly’s. The company is in discussions with several tenants about leasing this new building.

The removal of Friendly’s will make way for additional tenants to lease space at the front portion of the plaza.  Several tenants have expressed an interest in opening retail stores in the existing vacant spaces at the plaza once the Friendly’s is torn down.

Plans are expected to be submitted to the Town in early September for removal of the Friendly’s, the addition of new parking and landscaping, and a new retail building facing Nott Street East.

ShopRite has also expanded its store at the plaza by leasing an additional 1,200 square feet of space adjacent to the existing store. This brings the Niskayuna store to a total of more than 56,200 square feet.

“ShopRite has leased an additional 1,200 square feet of space at our Niskayuna store location,” said Tom Urtz, Vice President of Human Resources and Community Affairs for ShopRite Supermarkets. “The overwhelming success of our ShopRite from Home service has created the need to expand the department. We are pleased that this opportunity has presented itself so we can better serve the needs of our loyal customers.”

In addition to the ShopRite expansion, TCBY Yogurt has opened next to Starbucks and ShopRite.

“These plans will help us continue the economic rejuvenation at this shopping plaza in the heart of Niskayuna,” said Town Supervisor Joe Landry.  “ShopRite has been a huge success — so much so that they need to expand.  Next, the additional parking and landscaping gained by the removal of Friendly’s will help link the front and main portion of the plaza.  Finally, demolishing Friendly’s will open up the entire front portion of ShopRite Square for additional retail tenants.”

Marty Finn, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development said, “This is great news for Niskayuna and Schenectady County.  By working together with the Town, we have transformed a largely vacant plaza into a very successful, expanding shopping destination. ”

The Schenectady County IDA is providing a $35,000 grant toward demolition costs of the former Friendly’s.