Proposal for 'food hall' for former Human Services building recommended
Norwich — A proposal by a Norwich group to create a “food hall” with various food vendors with shared kitchen space and a common dining area soon could be named as the preferred developer for the former Human Services building at 80 Broadway.
The LeWitt Group LLC submitted one of two proposals in October to purchase and develop the building vacated by the city agency in September. Partners Sofia LeWitt and Asaf Cohen of Norwich offered to purchase the building and the parking lot to the rear at 68 Broadway for a combined price of $131,300 to create a food hall with various food vendors sharing a kitchen to prepare food and sell it retail to customers either as take-out or to be eaten in a central dining area in the building.
A resolution to authorize City Manager John Salomone to negotiate a purchase and sale agreement with the LeWitt Group is on Monday’s City Council's agenda, but the approval could be delayed while the proposed sale is referred to the Commission on the City Plan for a recommendation.
LeWitt, the lead developer on the project, was not available Thursday for comment on the plan.
The second proposal, submitted by Raymond Casper and Justin Smith of Norwich, called for buying the building and parking lot for $50,000 to create a brewery.
Salomone said the LeWitt Group proposal was preferred for several reasons, including the much higher purchase price. He said the two partners have cash to purchase the building and to do the development and also have a track record as owners of two successful restaurants in Chester.
Salomone said the city would not shy away from allowing a third brewery within a few blocks of one another, but the prospective developers had little experience in running a commercial operation.
“I think it’s going to be very popular,” Salomone said of the food hall plan. “I think they’ll do well.”
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