Crowds Come Out to Celebrate DeCicco’s Armonk Opening

 

For 16 months Armonk residents had to endure the inconvenience of living without a supermarket in their hamlet.

That wait ended on Friday with the opening of DeCicco Family Markets, a new specialty supermarket at the partially completed Armonk Square shopping center. Customers and curiosity seekers streamed into and out of the spanking new store in droves throughout the day, many leaving with multiple bags and delighted that the downtown once again has a supermarket.

“Finally, a grocery back in Armonk,” said local resident Gino Silvestri. “I’m so thrilled and it’s a DeCicco’s.”

Friday’s opening marks the eleventh location in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange counties for the family-owned company–and it is not your run-of-the-mill supermarket. On the lower level where the aisles were fully stocked, there is a seafood station, a coffee and dessert bar, baked goods, a deli counter and a wide assortment of hot and cold foods for customers to take home or to have for lunch. The shelves and checkout counters are furnished with homey dark wood paneling.

Upstairs on the mezzanine level, visitors can get a bite to eat and buy a beer or glass of wine, one of only two supermarkets in the state to have a liquor license. (The other is the DeCicco’s in Brewster.) There is a kitchen that will be the site of cooking demonstrations by local or celebrity chefs with space for at least 40 to 50 people, said Marie DeCicco, whose husband and two brothers-in-law established the company in 1973.

Perhaps one of the most unique and talked about features on opening day was the bocce court on the upper level, an idea that DeCicco’s two sons, Chris and John, who now run the company along with a nephew, came up with, she said.

DeCicco said she hoped the store won’t only be a place where locals can shop for  groceries but a destination to eat lunch, have a drink or meet neighbors.

“Everything we hoped for is coming to fruition,” DeCicco said. “It’s been a long two years for the customers and for us, too. It’s’ very exciting.”

DeCicco’s came to fruition after North Castle town officials learned in April 2011 that the owner of the nearby Armonk Shopping Center had signed a 25-year lease with CVS Pharmacy to take over the space that had been occupied by A&P. The abrupt change was announced after several failed attempts by the landlord to redesign the store and property. A&P closed in February 2012.

Desperate to regain a supermarket, town officials appealed to Armonk Square partners Dominick and John DioGuardi and Alan Zaretsky to jumpstart the long dormant project, this time with a supermarket.

Town Supervisor Howard Arden said Armonk Square’s other two buildings, which will house the small shop retail spaces and 11 apartments, are about 75 and 95 percent complete and nearly fully leased.

On Friday, however the focus was on the supermarket.

“It’s going to be a big hit, no question about it,” Arden said.

That was the sentiment from shoppers leaving the market. Armonk resident Sheryl Nolletti, who bought $89 worth of sushi with her sons John and Tyler, said she’s excited to have a new supermarket and not have to put up with a half hour round trip to Mount Kisco or North White Plains.

Sara Grossman, owner of the nearby boutique Green With Envy, said she was impressed with the attentiveness of staff.

“Clearly, the store itself is beautiful, but I have to tell you the staff is terrific, a really first rate group of people,” Grossman said. “Everyone was there to help and be very kind and very supportive. I think that shows the integrity of the store, the kind of people they have.”

Silvestri said he likes the store’s social media presence. Prior to the opening, he requested items on the Armonk DeCicco’s Facebook page and management had them sitting on the shelves.

Armonk resident Amy Dworetzki said she will shop there because it’s a local store.

“I don’t have one supermarket that I have loyalty to but this is my town so, of course, I’ll be back,” she said. “You have to shop in your town.”

For DeCicco, the best part of the experience was watching her two sons take the baton from her husband and open this store along with the ones in Brewster and Harrison.

“This is their brilliant achievement, which for us is overwhelming as parents because they have far exceeded our accomplishments and it’s just very, very heartwarming,” she said.