I would like to know who made this statment that is in the article. That said they will not because they are opening a store in Tewksbury. Was it Community Planning or Patch ?
Update on the building: About a month ago, the lines were painted over in the parking lot, but Community Planning is still unsure about what will go in the building. It won't be Ocean State Job Lot because they are planning to open a store in Tewksbury.

Make the building into the Middle School - tear down the old school for open space.

Hi Joe,
That was us. Ocean State is opening a store in Tewksbury and has not contacted the town about the Stop & Shop site since then.

Thank you Ashley. I did not think OSJL said " It won't be Ocean State Job Lot because they are planning to open a store in Tewksbury".

It would be a great place for a gym.

Here we go again......................HA HA HA

Maybe a drive-in theater?

Mix use retail/office/restaurant space; new town hall; basically anything to enhance the town that a good majority of the people in town will use. I think the people who built the new Ryers did an amazing job with the space and I would be interested to hear if they had any ideas as to how best to use the space.

In a dream world, seeing as real estate is basically in the tank right now, wouldn't it be nice if S&S realized how they kicked us in the teeth by their legal but sleazy move and donated the space to the town. This would get them a nice write-off and probably win back some customers!

Something is up, because there are construction crews working in the building.

Jim, I checked, I was correct. They are putting in rest rooms for the gas station employees.

The fact that they invested money in making restrooms for gas station employees tells me that there is not anyone interested in that location at this time.

I would love to see this space turned into a town center type space with a mixture of small commercial shops, and greenery. this space is one of the few commercial spaces that does not look like a strip mall and where the building and parking lot actually blends into the neighborhood. north reading is seriously lacking a cohesive commerical district and this renovating this space could serve as the beginning to developing a townish appeal. driving down rte 28 is an eye sore currently. the signage is horrible and the strip of parking lots and dated buildings does nothing to show the beauty of the town. [seriously, the lights on the picadilly pub look like a landing strip]

i would like to also see a nice shopping area, maybe something like church street in vermont but a smaller version obviously. no cars driving through, just parking and then little shops, and a healthy food option maybe like a fresh city?

I like the idea of small shops, but please not another hair or nail salon... with open space / greenery and maybe a dog park on the side. I hope it looks nicer than some of the eye sores we see on route 28. Zosia

Even though S&S will never allow it, this is a perfect location for a Market Basket.

I miss the Starlight Drive-in, I saw Rocky and the first Star Wars there. A 70's Oldsmobile Delta 88 was a rolling family room back then. A movie theatre would be a great idea. Even a smaller one like the old Salem Tri in Salem, NH. Or, maybe a Cultural Center, Civic Center, or Auditorium for cultural happenings, concerts, theatre, etc...

I would love to see a movie theater in that space...maybe a "Chunky's"-type place where you can eat and watch a movie. I, too, miss the old drive-in. It would be nice to have someplace right here in town for the kids to go (and the adults, too!).

How about an indoor playground?

These are all great ideas, But in this economy I don't think it will happen.

Thinking of stores that I drive a distance now to patronize (and would rather make the short drive to the S&S site): Christmas Tree Shop; Wegman's (high-end food store - S&S wouldn't like it); a good craft & stationery supply place; medical clinic (relocated from Rte 62, maybe with an emergency center), or a community college campus. All of these could keep the gas station on-site. All of these would generate regional "traffic" to benefit the other local businesses, and generate local jobs.

John, If OSJL had gone in there it would of gerenrated regional traffic to the area to help all the other businesses. But as you know from reading the posts on the issue some people could not see beyond their nose and caused it not to happen FOR NOW
Maybe when the store sits empty for a few more years they will feel different, but I doubt it..

I realize this is an old thread...any updates on the space?

North Reading has a single tax rate. So I might be a simpleton, but If I move out of my house I have to pay the same property tax if I still own it, whether I live there or not. Why would S&S pay less taxes now it is empty? The value of the property has not changed?

Are you saying that as a business they get special treatment? Does the amount of property tax get tied to gross sales or something?

When I said tax dollars I did not mean property tax dollars. When a business is operating in town they pay property tax dollars and they also pay a personal property tax on the equipment and fixtures within the building to run their business. This tax is called Personal Property Revenue. This Is the tax money we are losing with the building empty.