Goshen Plaza to be auctioned

By Nathan Mayberg
GOSHEN — Since 2001, Goshen has been without that all-important community anchor: a supermarket.

Many residents will surely be hoping that whoever wins the Goshen Plaza Shopping Center bid on April 15 has a supermarket in mind — and can fix potholes.

The property on Clowes Avenue, next to the Goshen Diner, is currently in bankruptcy proceedings. It's anchored by CVS pharmacy and includes a Dunkin Donuts, Verizon store, pizza restaurant, Thai and sushi restaurant, dry cleaner, laundromat and other stores. There are also a half-dozen empty storefronts.

Auction Advisors at auctionadvisors.com is running the action. Any sale is contingent upon bankruptcy court approval, according to the site.

According to the auction details, the former property owner received permission to build a 47,000-square-foot supermarket, more retail sites, and a restaurant, but it's not clear if the approvals for these projects still hold.

Village of Goshen Mayor Kyle Roddey said the is not sure if the old plans are still viable.

"We will certainly roll out the red carpet and do whatever we have to, to bring a supermarket in," he said.

Roddey said the village would work "hand in hand" with the new owner to bring a supermarket into the village.

At the plaza on Wednesday and Thursday, store managers and passersby shared one request for anyone who takes over the property: fix the potholes.

The crater-sized holes perforate the parking lot, including one massive cavity at the entrance and exit point.

The potholes are the "talk of the town," said Carlos Yambay, manager of the Verizon store for the past two years. He thinks the pockmarked lot led a restaurant to leave the plaza and is keeping new businesses away. He's happy with the landscaping and snowplowing at the plaza, he said, but infrastructure repairs are needed. He pointed to a metal rod sticking out of the sidewalk in front of the store as an example.

"This place really needs to get fixed up," he said. "Hopefully a developer will come in here and do something about it."

Christine McDowell, of Goshen, was heading to the laundromat Thursday morning.

"It's been a long time since we had a supermarket. I've lived here for 35 years. I do miss having a supermarket."

The parking lot is "atrocious," she said.

"I don't want the businesses to hurt, so I continue to come."

She said the conditions at the parking lot have been going on for many years.

"There is really no reason for it," she said.

"My heart bleeds for the businesses that are a part of this plaza. It hurts their livelihood," McDowell said.

Roddey said the village's building inspector has cited the plaza numerous times for violating code and that those in charge of the property have done the "bare minimum" necessary including some patching of the lot.

"We don't want to fine them and take money away from them fixing the potholes."

Roddey said the whole lot needs to be replaced.

Amy Chen, who manages the Dragon House, a Thai food and sushi restaurant, has been working at the plaza for more than 10 years. She said losing the Grand Union supermarket has affected her business. But she was clear about her top priority.

"We want them to fix the parking lot," Chen said.

Alan Zuckerman, whose realty company handles the leasing of space at the plaza, referred questions to Ian Deutsch, the court-appointed receiver of the property. Deutsch didn't return a message seeking comment.

A message left with Oren Klein, a representative of Auction Advisors, was not returned.

"I hope somebody buys it and does some good," McDowell said.