The new King Kullen Supermarket, located in the Manhasset Center which occupies 9.6 acres at the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Shelter Rock Road, should be completed by January 1, 2004. The opening should be later that month.

Late in 2002 site work began such as drainage and grading but it was delayed due to last year's extreme winter. Actual building on the supermarket commenced in March of 2003. There were several phases of construction including demolition of existing buildings, preparation of King Kullen's pad and its building construction, and parking lot alterations. The next phase will be the substantial renovation of the Filenes building and the adjoining structures to the west.

Prior to the renovation and construction approximately 250,000 square feet was occupied by the stores. According to Edward J. Glackin, vice president of Real Estate for King Kullen, the town now limits total floor space to 233,595 square feet, a reduction in overall size. Also reduced was total parking space yet "it should be adequate for the shopping center." Mr. Glackin said parking lot alterations would be completed before Thanksgiving.

A surprise to many residents will be the existence of an underground parking garage located in the vicinity of the old Today's Man store. The garage has not been used in the past but reopening it will increase total parking available. The garage has been renovated, cleaned, is well lit and secure. A closed circuit camera system and manned guard booth at the garage entrance will provide security. It will be operated during normal business hours and will be used mainly by employees who will be required to use it. Patients of Manhasset Diagnostic Imaging may choose to use the garage since those offices will be accessible via elevators directly from each level of the garage.

Kimco, owner of the shopping center, is finalizing lease negotiations with various tenants to occupy space vacated by Manhasset Diagnostic Imaging as well as other available space in the shopping center. Kimco will release the identity of those retailers when the leases are finalized, and anticipates they will be well received by the community.