East Gwillimbury council approves step toward Vince's Market expansion

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 21, 2016
By Simon Martin

Vince’s Market is one step closer to getting a facelift.

The grocer that started in Sharon as an open-air fruit market in 1956 is in the process of getting approval from the town to renovate the plaza.

While its facilities have changed over the years, the market has long been East Gwillimbury’s most recognizable grocer.

The existing retail uses are located at 19101 Leslie St., but the expansion of commercial uses is being proposed for 3 and 5 Sharon Blvd.

The location of the new Vince’s Market will be farther east in the plaza on the new land available. According to the developer, Vince’s wants to build an additional 3,000 square feet of space and add nearly 50 more parking spaces to keep up with modern grocery stores.

“This will bring a much improved, a much refreshed Vince’s market site; something the community of Sharon would be very proud of,” Vince’s spokesperson Howard Friedman said.

Council endorsed, in principle, the official plan amendment that proposes to re-designate and rezone the properties on Sharon Boulevard to permit a supermarket/grocery store and a variety of other retail, commercial and service-related uses in new and existing buildings.

Area residents voiced concerns last February about the new driveway location and excessive noise coming from a proposed truck-loading dock that would be closer to Sharon Boulevard. Friedman assured council the company has made adjustments to satisfy those concerns and it will be dealt with in the upcoming site plan agreement.

The plan for Vince’s is to keep the current location open while construction was being completed. Once the new store is ready, the majority of the current Vince’s building would be removed.

Businesses sharing the plaza, such as Subway and Edward Jones, would remain.

A spokesperson for the plaza assured residents in February it was not interested in putting a drive-through restaurant at the northwest corner of the plaza. In fact, council was told plaza owners would like a bank to lease that unit.