CVS on Parker Street celebrates grand opening

Date: 2/7/2011

Feb. 7, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — It was congratulations and cake inside and a quick ribbon cutting outside to mark the official grand opening of the new 16 Acres CVS on Jan. 31.

City officials in attendance included Mayor Domenic Sarno, City Councilors James Ferrera, Tim Allen, Kateri Walsh and 16 Acres representative Clodo Concepcion, and Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management Patrick J. Sullivan. They joined State Rep. Tom Petrolati, legislative aides from the offices of State Sen. Gale Candaras and State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, members of the 16 Acres Civic Association and shoppers in congratulating Frank Colaccino, president of Windsor, Conn., based real estate developers The Colvest Group and representatives from CVS corporate on the opening of the company's newest Springfield store, located at 1242 Parker St.

In his remarks thanking the city and state officials for making time for the ceremony, Colaccino also gave a nod to the recent weather, saying his property management team had been working hard to "get the snow off the site" so there would be adequate parking for invited guests and shoppers.

"Putting something together takes a whole team," he continued, referring not only to the event, but to the property acquisition, permitting and construction of the new CVS.

In total, he said the project took "4 to 5 years" from the acquisition of the first parcel of land on the corner to the completion of the building.

Among those he acknowledged for their help were Tom Burton, president of Hampden Bank, a major investor and Concepcion, whose watchful eye Colaccino said, kept the project "on the straight and narrow."

Sarno praised the effect of the new project on the 16 Acres neighborhood and congratulated CVS for its continued investment in the city. He also noted the attendance of many city councilors at the mid-day event, including Walsh.

Janice Hassett, legislative aide to Sen. Candaras, brought greetings and congratulations from the State House to Colaccino, CVS Regional Manager Erika Kerr and store manager Marie Raspuzzi. Rep. Puppolo's aide Cheryl Spinks also brought a proclamation, which was read to the gathering by Concepcion.

Following the official ribbon-cutting, Kerr told Reminder Publications that the 16 Acres store was one of the newer designs for CVS.

"Its colors are more vibrant," she said, noting that this store also features a wider center aisle that allows customers easy access to the pharmacy, which "is 70 percent of our business."

She also pointed out the expanded food section, something she said is "good for moms and the elderly," who are looking for one-stop shopping for several errands.

Colaccino said acquisition of the multiple parcels — including a gas station, Christian bookstore and insurance agency — needed to complete the project "took a little time — 3 1/2 to 4 years" and that the permitting process was "challenging at times ... but once we got to that point it went fairly quickly."

He called the project "good for everyone."

"It created jobs, not just construction jobs, but permanent jobs" in the neighborhood, he said.