Joe, I knew I could count on you :^) I'm on my way to their Saugus store later today. Guess that makes me white trash to some folks out there :^)

Yea be careful Fred they may be waiting for you at the line when you return. I would come home a different route if I were you.

that's a great idea too! THen maybe s&s will come down on their price and we wouldn't have to drive so far for a decent rate. Or they can put a MB where the old stop and shop used to be

Kelly, that's the heart of the whole S&S kerfluffle. They still own the old property and would never lease or sell it to another grocery store chain. Therefore, no MB, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, etc. Too bad the town couldn't seize it as abandoned property, then bring one of them in.

Fred that would be great if the town could seize it. Why on earth would they just let the property sit there. Such a waste of space. I know the town could use that for something worthwhile. Not even just another shopping site.

@ Nooj, The town of North Reading did not reject OSJL. A very small mniority of outspoken do gooders drove them out of town. They left because they did not need to put up with the static this SMALL group was causing and went to a town were they are welcome. You are correct about Christmas Tree Shop. Yep that old S&S sure looks good sitting there empty for over a year now...NOT...And It will be a long time before it has anyone in it in this economy.

@ Bob, The town can not just go in and take over private property.

We need a good anchor tenant, not only to provide some sort of goods or services needed here in town,but also to help revive the entire plaza and attract other tenants to fill the empty storefronts and get everything back onto the tax rolls.

Bob, if you want a new sb or practice field, go take a crack at WalMart. There's an old ballfield on their property between their store and the post office property, currently overgrown with weeds and used to store construction equipment. Back when I was involved with Little League, and the land wasn't so overgrown, I talked with the store mgr to propose that they clean it up and give it to the town, how they would benefit not only from goodwill, but also from getting add'l business from parents dropping their kids off then popping into the store for a few things. He was going to take it up with the regional mgr, and as you can see, it never happened. That's not to say they wouldn't be more receptive now. It's worth a shot.