By Holly Toal<br><a href="mailto:holly.toal@journal-register.com">E-mail Holly</a>
MEDINA — Although the Jubilee plaza on Route 31 has been vacant for some time now, Frank Budwey, owner of Budwey Supermarkets, is thinking of changing that. He is considering purchasing and renovating the building to open up a new Budwey store.
The business owner said he’ll “probably know by December” if he will go through with plan.
“We’ve got a plan to lay out the store,” he said, adding that the building has already been gutted of its previous contents. “Now we have to put the numbers together.”
Throughout the planning stages, Budwey has been working with a construction company to determine the cost of renovation and Olean Wholesale to put together the cost of equipment.
Having recently opened a store in Newfane, Budwey said he has a pretty good idea what the costs will be.
He currently owns three stores, with locations in North Tonawanda, Buffalo and Newfane, the latter of which opened this past Father’s Day.
“We’ve been in North Tonawanda for more than 85 years,” he said.
Budwey said he chose Medina as a possible future location because while there used to be other supermarkets in the area, there is now only one, and he can “feel the need for that community to have an alternate shop.”
He added that he has received numerous e-mails and requests from people in Medina that he look into opening up a store in the village.
Bringing a new supermarket to the area would mean the addition of 110 to 120 jobs, Budwey said.
Budwey will need to go before the Medina Planning Board if he intends on going through with the plans.
Contact editor Holly Toal at 798-1400, ext. 8225.
