ESSEX

A new DG Market establishment will open its doors at 125 Bokum Road in Essex in February, standing as the only grocery store in town.

The plaza on Bokum Road was sold for $1.875 million to 125 Bokum Center LLC and will occupy 12,500 square feet out of the total 18,500 square feet formerly occupied by the closed Colonial Market.

This opening marks one of the first DG Markets to operate in Connecticut and will likely be the first of dozens across the state over the next few years in towns that are in need of a central grocery store, said Jay Morris of O,R&L Commercial Real Estate. Morris is also a partner in 125 Bokum Center LLC.

“DG is looking to locate new markets in towns throughout Connecticut that are underserved by major grocery stores,” said Morris. “Essex does not have a supermarket in town. Residents currently have to go to neighboring towns to find a grocery store.”

According to land use official Carey Duques, this is most likely the reason why the market owners are working “fast and furiously” to open their doors to a community whose former grocery store was closed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike Dollar General—the namesake store of the market’s owners—DG Market will be like a typical grocery selling fresh produce, meat, and dairy, as well as other household goods that shoppers could find at a Dollar General store. Unlike a Big Y or Stop & Shop, the store will be small in scale while selling typical foodstuff.

“It's definitely more than a convenience store, clearly, because there'll be produce and meats, but not a full-size grocery store,” said Duques. “They have the produce and meat. It won’t be just non-perishables and retail items.”

The market will occupy the majority of the building on the 3.87-acre lot and feature a wall separating its portion of the building from a still vacant space.

“If you're facing the entrance to the market, the left side will be vacant…Maybe it’s quarter of the space will be vacant for now,” said Duques.

Duques added that additional renovations may be required in order to occupy the majority of the space. The owners have conceptually discussed creating an entrance to the building on the side facing Bokum Road.

Duques said that the feedback from Essex residents regarding this development has run “the gamut of reactions.”

“We’ve heard it all,” Duques said. “Like any change in town, some people are having concerns, [asking], ‘Is this the right fit?’ and then other people are excited for a market to be in town. So, it always runs the gamut of reactions.”