By JOSEPH KELLARD
Property owner Allen Rosenberg, co-owner of Manhattan-based developer Alrose Group, has proposed building a Wild by Nature supermarket, an independent subsidiary of King Kullen that specializes in organic and natural foods.
"We're basically in the permitting process, so it could take anywhere from eight months to a year to get the approvals," said Rosenberg. "But we start building once the approvals start, and if we're lucky, that is by early next summer."
Wild by Nature is similar to a supermarket in that it features produce, fish and meat departments and a bakery, but it specializes in healthy foods, said Ed Glackin, King Kullen's vice president of real estate. He said it also has a deli, but in addition to featuring typical deli meats it will offer specialty prepared foods, such as sushi, tofu, organic salads and soups.
The independent chain differs from Trader Joe's, the California-based specialty grocery food store with a location in Oceanside, Glackin said, noting that Wild by Nature focuses more on fresh foods with a larger produce department and greater variety of fruits and vegetables, and a larger selection of fresh fish and "antibiotic, hormone-free" meats.
The Oceanside store will be just the fourth Wild by Nature shop, with the others, all located on Long Island ‹ in Huntington, Hampton Bays and East Setauket ‹ having opened within the past six years.
"Wild by Nature is not like a conventional supermarket, where we would put them in every neighborhood," Glackin said. "They serve larger geographic areas because they're something of a destination. Therefore, we try to put them in locations that are accessible to large areas."
The site on Long Beach Road, near Foxhurst Road, is ideal because it is convenient to Rockville Centre, Long Beach and portions of the Five Towns, Glackin said. "It's kind of a crossroads there," he added. "We expect that it's a meaningful addition to the area that's already improving, and will greatly enhance it."
Wild by Nature signed on before the site was cleaned up in early July, after the New York State Department of Labor halted the original general cleanup in April because asbestos was discovered there. However, Alrose Group maintains that the site tested negative for the chemical fiber after the former vacant Foodtown building burned in a fire last November. The DOL required the developer to perform a mandated and much costlier specialized asbestos cleanup of the site.
Meanwhile, Rosenberg's plans for the adjacent property, a building Alrose Group purchased last year that houses the former Oceanside movie theater, a barber shop and a memorabilia store, include developing either a Walgreens or a section of stores.
"There's a preliminary buzz that Walgreens is looking to move out of its present location [on Davison Avenue and Long Beach Road] to come up to our site," Rosenberg said. "So Walgreens seems to be the dominant guy that wants to come in right now and partner up with Wild by Nature."
Rich Zicone, district manager of Walgreens, declined to discuss any talks the company may have had with developers, but said, "Even though there's an existing site in Oceanside, we're always looking to upgrade when we can. And that may be something that we're looking at as a possibility if it fits our criterion for a prototype store."
If Walgreens or CVS cannot make the move, Rosenberg said he would instead develop a section of stores that may include a Starbucks, a bank, a small personal trainer gym and a Pantano Foods, a restaurant that is part of a broader Hewlett-based food business looking to expand to other communities. "We're thinking about opening a store there in Oceanside and in Merrick," said Gianluca Pantano, a co-owner of Pantano.
Alrose Group is also eyeing a neighboring 40,000-square-foot parcel between Castleton and Homecrest courts that is occupied by the Eagle gas station, a Japanese restaurant and a vacant former restaurant, but there are obstacles the developer would have to overcome.
"I would have loved to move ahead with that, but the gas station pretty much blocks it from where I can redevelop the whole block," Rosenberg said, adding that he has interested tenants for this property. "So I had to pass on that deal temporarily."
The main obstacle is Frank Amray, who has leased the gas station property for 10 years, has another four years left on his lease and has a first option to buy the property. But Amray fears that Alrose Group is going to make it difficult for him to maintain his option.
"I have a price I agreed with the landlord [on] to purchase the property, and I think he'll really make it difficult for me now," Amray said.
Rosenberg said that Alrose Group would meet with the community about his proposed developments. "As soon as I hear from the Oceanside Civic Association," he said, "I'm happy to put together whatever we have to do to come and meet with the people of Oceanside."
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
