HARRISBURG, Mar. 25, 2011 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) today joined the groundbreaking for Bakers Square in the Hunting Park West section of Philadelphia at the former headquarters of the famed Tasty Baking Company.
“In the midst of a tough budget season for Philadelphia and the state, the development of the future Bakers Square shopping center is a perfect example of why we need to make investments in our communities,” Senator Vincent Hughes said. “Such community and economic development brings about significant, positive changes for the residents, local businesses and the neighborhood for years to come.”
Bakers Square is a 220,000 square foot shopping complex located at Fox and Roberts Streets in Philadelphia. The Bakers Square project will entail an expansive endeavor encompassing 30 acres located on Hunting Park Avenue, Fox Street and Roberts Avenue. This development is a part of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission Redevelopment Initiative.
Bakers Square will be anchored by a 71,000 square foot Brown’s ShopRite supermarket owned and operated by Brown’s Super Stores. Brown’s Super Stores operate several ShopRite supermarkets in Philadelphia and are known for their efforts to increase the availability of affordable, healthy foods in under-served, urban communities.
The mixed-use urban redevelopment project is being developed by Metro Development. Metro Development’s mission is to invest its energy and talents towards developing projects that meet the specific needs of the communities they serve and has prided itself with the ability to change as communities needs change.
“Powerful and visionary forces for community improvement are joining for a groundbreaking that says a lot about the vitality of our city,” said Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA). “Once again, Jeff Brown and Brown’s Super Stores are stepping up and voting “yes” for Philadelphia by anchoring Bakers Square with their newest ShopRite supermarket. The developers at US Realty Associates and Metro Development Company are showing the way with bold investment in the former Tasty Baking site.”
“Projects of this nature are essential to create and maintain neighborhood revitalization. I foresee Bakers Square along with the over 61,000 households in the area, encouraging further commercial development for Hunting Park West,” Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. added. “Furthermore, this brand-new Brown’s Super Stores ShopRite will create over 300 jobs directly impacting Hunting Park West while also enhancing community life for Philadelphia as a whole.”
Jones added that there are several projects proposed to join Bakers Square and these projects will join the reviving business community of not only Brown’s ShopRite, but Temple University Health Systems and Pep Boys Corporate Offices behind the re-establishment and development of this area.
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