McCaffrey's supermarket to open satellite store in Palmer Square kiosk in October

McCaffrey's supermarket will be opening a satellite store in the kiosk in Palmer Square in early October. But while the move may lend a more upscale and chic atmosphere to the area, some Princeton residents are less than thrilled about the change.

With the arrival of McCaffrey's — which will take over the space Oct. 1 — several people who currently work at the kiosk's small newsstand likely will lose their jobs.

Chris Bialek, a newsstand employee, said he found out only last week that he will not be able to keep his job.

According to Nae Sup Kim — who leases the kiosk from Palmer Square Management to house his newsstand business — all his employees may be laid off as a result of the change.

But supermarket owner Jim McCaffrey said he is looking for new employees and would like to talk to any current kiosk employees who will lose their jobs.

Nevertheless, with only a few days remaining before his job may be terminated, Bialek said he has heard nothing about such offers.

McCaffrey's will likely reopen the kiosk by Oct. 4. Pending approval by the Princeton Regional Planning Board, extensive renovations of the kiosk will begin soon after.

McCaffrey said yesterday that he hopes to "gut and totally remodel" the kiosk to make it more aesthetically pleasing. He will also expand the kiosk's size and product line to include breakfast foods, sandwiches and snacks geared for people "on the run."

Lease frustration

Kim said he is frustrated by his experiences with Palmer Square Management. He had hoped to find a buyer for his business who could obtain the lease from the company, which manages other spaces in Palmer Square.

Kim said he made a tentative agreement with one buyer, but Palmer Square Management refused to transfer the lease to that buyer.

By the time Kim reached a deal with the second buyer — whom Palmer Square Management had initially approved — the management company again refused the transfer.

Believing that he would be unable to sell the business, Kim then decided to renew his lease and continue running the kiosk.

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Kim said Palmer Square Management verbally committed to renew his lease for three more years, but the company later refused.

As a result, Kim said he is leaving feeling "empty-handed."

David Newton, Palmer Square Management's vice president, said he "was forced to make tough decisions" about Kim's business.

"When a lease comes to an end, a landlord makes a choice," Newton said. Kim's plans, he added, did not coincide with the interests of Palmer Square Management.

Borough Mayor Marvin Reed said he has his own reservations about McCaffrey's moving into the kiosk.

The 1982 construction of the kiosk was initially controversial because it seemed to interfere with the mission of protecting the open space around Palmer Square, said Reed. Possible expansion of the kiosk thus raises additional concerns.

Reed also said he believes the area "already has enough greasy foods." Burger King and Victor's pizzeria are both within one block of the future McCaffrey's site.