Utica is getting its first Street Corner urban market in the former Rite Aid building on Genesee Street.

The 2,000-plus square foot store will be opening April 1st and will serve a variety of fresh and prepackaged grocery items.

Enessa Carbone, who re-developed the building as the Westwood with her business partner Christine Martin, says she's opening the new store to support the revitalization of downtown Utica.

"Happily, there's a lot of development going on downtown, so we wanted to provide an option for people to get items quickly, including groceries and fresh food, but also to serve our hotel guests in the area," said Carbone, adding that the store will also offer delivery in the near future. "The Street Corner Urban Superette concept with its expanded offerings fit our planned business model well."

The new store is owned by Carbone and her husband, Sal Raspante

Street Corner is based in Topeka, Kansas and has 35 franchised convenience stores in 19 states.

The Utica location is just the company’s third “Urban Superette,” designed to integrate into existing buildings and multi-use developments.

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