DiCicco's to Replace Food City, Opening Expected This Fall

In what town officials are calling a major win for Harrison's downtown business district, Dicicco Food Market has officially agreed to open its 10th location at 7 Halstead Avenue after closes next month.

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont confirmed Tuesday that an agreement to bring the local chain to Harrison is in place.

"I think it's going to be an asset to our community, I welcome them with open arms," Belmont said. "We're very excited about this."

in coming to Harrison had been swirling for weeks, but the agreement wasn't finalized until Tuesday, Belmont said. Town officials have been speaking with the market's leadership since finding out Food City will after more than two decades on Halstead Avenue.

"Food City has been a fixture in our town for many, many, years and it's kind of sad that they are leaving, but given the circumstance, the sun is shining and I'm very excited Dicicco's chose Harrison," Belmont said.

DiCicco Food Market has brought an innovative approach to other communities throughout Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties since opening its first location in 1972. It is one of the only grocery stores in New York state to have a liquor license and full cafe in one location and also boasts a wide variety of fine cheeses and beers. Nearby stores are located in Pelham, Scarsdale and Ardsley.

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Councilwoman Marlane Amelio said the store will bring an exciting new destination for Harrison shoppers, and is a great fit for the town.

"They operate a wonderful family business that will be an asset to the Town of Harrison," she said. "Hopefully it will be a good jump start for our revitalization."

Initial plans are to remodel the inside of the current grocery store, creating a brand new internal design before a grand opening sometime in the early fall. There are no plans to change the outside of the building, so the new store won't have to go through the sometimes lengthy planning board approval process before opening.

Amelio credited the newly formed Downtown Revitalization Committee; a group of downtown business and property owners, for their work helping create a buzz that Harrison is "open for business."

"These guys work very hard, they have a vested interest," Amelio said.

Marty Spatz, a member of the committee and nearby property owner, was one of the people who spoke with leadership at DiCicco's, promoting Harrison's downtown as an up and coming business destination.

"It shows you that people have decided that the thought process is to take the opportunity now to move to the downtown area and get it going again," Spatz said, adding that filling the soon-to-be vacant property as quickly as possible was an important priority for Harrison.

"I felt they would be a great asset in the future to the community," he said. "It will replace a food store that we absolutely should have and it will be a great source of availability of food for the seniors that they can walk to or that are very close to their homes."

DiCicco's has built a reputation in the area as a community-friendly shopping destination that town leaders hope will build more interest in downtown business moving forward. Belmont said quickly replacing a closing grocery store, and filling a need in the community, is a good sign of things to come.

"They wanted Harrison as much as we wanted them and we are very excited to see they are actually going to commit," he said. "It just goes to show you Harrison is in a renaissance, people want to come here."