Apothecary moves off Main Street to plaza

NORTH CANAAN — A lease is signed and interior finishing work is underway at a second Stop & Shop Plaza storefront. Canaan Apothecary is set to move from Main Street to the new location in about two months.

Both Kelly Voss, of Developers Realty Corp., and Elaine LaRoche, president and CEO of the Salisbury Pharmacy Group, confirmed the news.

Developers Realty handled permitting work for the rebuilding of Stop & Shop Supermarket. The expanded store opened in June. Another 12,000 square feet of retail space, left unfinished in anticipation of various tenants, has remained mostly vacant since. State Line Wine & Spirits, under new ownership, moved in when construction was completed in 2006.

As for the remainder, there was some interest. It seemed rents were higher than local business owners wanted to risk, and the market is not large enough for chain retailers or restaurants.

Now, “it’s just tough times,â€�  Voss said. “We are still hearing from people who are interested, but they are not willing to make a move right now. Like almost everyone else, they are waiting to see what the economy will do.â€�

A move to the new location, with the abundant parking and handicapped access lacking at the Main Street store, has long been considered by the Salisbury Pharmacy Group. LaRoche has said that one of the group’s goals is to find ways to help independent pharmacies thrive.

However, the expanded Stop & Shop, is a “super store,� with room inside for more than groceries. The Quincy, Mass.-based company opted to devote space in the market to a bank, and Boston Market prepared foods, as well as a floral shop.