Reprinted from HopNews.com

Colella's Supermarket plans 38% expansion

"We grow as the town grows." — Dale (Colella) Danahy

Colella's offers house to town at no charge

Above, conceptual drawing by Gorman-Richardson Architects. View from Main Street.

by Robert Falcione

November 10, 2004 — Ten years after starting his grocery store on the Main Street hill by Walcott Street in 1945, and healing from his war wounds, Daniel E. Colella, veteran of D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and Northern Africa, moved to the current location at 61 Main Street. Since then, Colella's market has had two expansions, one one 1980, the other in 1990.  Daniel's brother Angelo, was hired in 1947 and retired in 1995.

Above, conceptual drawing by Gorman-Richardson Architects    

"We grow as the town grows," said Daniel's daughter, Dale Danahy, while showing off the current expansion's conceptual drawing. "We looked at what a town of this size would need and came up with a 7,400 ft² expansion easily," she said.

     The ambitious plan by this Hopkinton institution includes housing a coffee shop and building a patio area outside. In addition to expansion of the current departments like grocery, liquor, bakery, dairy and produce, the market plans to add a fresh fish department with a lobster tank and sushi. They will also add, "...a real floral department, gourmet cheeses, hot meals to go, ribs and chicken. We've had these ideas for at least two years." said Mrs. Danahy.

      (Video now only available by request.)

     "This will add to the revenue of the town in the increase in property value. And I  can foresee needing a half-dozen more employees," she said. "We want to offer more service and variety of products so people don't have to out of town for them."

     "Doug Resnick and Scott Richardson have been the most helpful in leading us through the steps of the process," said Mrs. Danahy. The expansion plans must go before the Conservation Commission, Site Plan Review Board, Planning Board, Historical Commission and the Board of Appeals.

     The expansion will encompass the property at 18 Grove Street.

    "We've offered it to the town for affordable housing, to be moved to a new location. Otherwise we would have to just knock it down," she said.