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WILKES-BARRE — Humford Equities has announced that City Market and Café, an upscale specialty urban food market and deli, will open at 21 Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The 10-year lease was signed Tuesday.
The move follows the exodus of the Arts Seen Gallery, which had occupied that space for five and a half years.
“We are very pleased by this long-term agreement with City Market, as it really advances our efforts to make Downtown Wilkes-Barre a walkable, resident-friendly environment offering both convenience and destination shopping for families, college students and the business community” said Mayor Tom Leighton.
The store is expected to open in late September or early October pending approval of required permits and licenses, according to Chris Gilchrist, president of Convenient Food Marts. The Scranton-based company operates a chain of 30 Convenient Food Marts scattered across northeastern Pennsylvania, from Palmerton, Carbon County, in the south, to Lenoxville, Susquehanna County, in the north.
Gilchrist said the concept will bring a variety of groceries, bakery items and dairy, plus organic offerings in “an upscale manner.”
The deli plans seating for 50, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a high end coffee bar, canopy and outdoor seating.
The 5,500-square-foot enterprise hopes to attract those from downtown businesses, colleges and area residents.
Gilchrist said he has been working with the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and the Diamond City Partnership to make the idea a reality.
He believes the new business will meet a new demand from those who live and work in the city.
Wico van Genderen, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber’s president and CEO, said he was excited to have the new business serving an expanding downtown customer base.
“This is one step in what we hope will be a continuum of an orchestrated and sustainable plan for the vibrancy, the growth, the quality of life and the attraction of jobs to the area,” he said.