West side commercial spaces being snapped up

Wegmans Food Markets is among recent expansions and consolidations

JIM STINSON •  D&C Staff Writer •  July 20, 2008

Despite inflation, food appears to be selling well.

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. recently leased 170,000 square feet of refrigerated and freezer space in Chili near the Greater Rochester International Airport. The lease, whose terms were undisclosed, was made by CB Richard Ellis-Rochester, which represented Wegmans.

The site was formerly occupied by Empire Beef and Redistribution, and was leased by Weidner Realty, according to Kimberly Schafer, CB Richard Ellis director of marketing and research.

Wegmans, the 71-store, family-owned chain based in Gates, liked the location at 171 Weidner Road, which has easy access to Scottsville Road and Interstate 390.

Flex space is hot

There may be an economic slowdown in the Rochester area and the nation, but commercial real estate is holding up well. CB Richard Ellis, the commercial real estate giant, has just finished renting a west-side space of 105,000 square feet to about 10 different companies. The "flex" space, so named because the space is flexible in its usage, is mostly distribution and warehouse space, with a smaller amount for office space.

The flex space is in two west-side complexes — one at Marway Circle and Buffalo Road in Gates, and the other off Route 531 in Gates.

Rents in western Monroe County for the type of space are a "blended" rate, meaning they are an average of industrial and office rates. The rents tend to run between $7 per square foot and $8 per square foot, according to Schafer.

Schafer said the west side is a good location as it has access to highways and an industry-friendly infrastructure.

Tenants include THD Home Services, Wegmans Food Markets and Alpha Beta Gamma Wireless.

In total, CB Richard Ellis has leased out 107,000 square feet of flex space since the beginning of the second quarter of 2008

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