Stamford residents may soon see a new anchor grocery store after the former Stop & Shop plaza at 41 Alvord Lane was sold for $25.5 million to a limited‑liability company whose address matches H Mart’s corporate office in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, according to CT Insider and reported by Hoodline.
The 82,000‑square‑foot property, located just off West Main Street across from a ShopRite, has been vacant since Stop & Shop closed in 2024. Economic Development Director Leah Kagan confirmed the purchase and called it “a very exciting opportunity for local residents if the company opens a store there,” noting that shoppers often travel to existing H Mart locations.
H Mart describes itself as the largest Asian supermarket chain in the United States, operating more than 110 stores nationwide and focusing on South Korean products alongside a broad selection of Asian groceries. The nearest H Mart to Stamford currently sits in Hartsdale, New York, one of two Westchester County locations, and those stores listed hourly wages as high as $22.10 in 2025.
If the Stamford site is developed, it would be considerably larger than H Mart’s 35,000‑square‑foot store at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and would dwarf the chain’s typical footprint in the region. The purchase signals a serious commitment to bringing the brand to Fairfield County, though H Mart has not posted any Connecticut job openings or provided a public timeline for construction.
The acquisition follows a pattern of quiet real‑estate moves by H Mart, including a $12 million purchase of the Hillcrest Shopping Center in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and an $18.3 million acquisition of a former Kohl’s in Fremont, California, both of which were announced without immediate development plans.
Stamford’s grocery landscape has been shifting rapidly. ShopRite opened a new store in Danbury’s former Stop & Shop location, DeCicco & Sons debuted in Greenwich, and the former Fairway Market in Stamford is being repurposed as a Mom’s Organic Market with additional tenants. City officials have also discussed tax incentives to attract grocery retailers to downtown neighborhoods.
What’s next: H Mart has not released a schedule for a Stamford opening or announced hiring plans. Residents should monitor city announcements and H Mart communications for updates on permits, construction timelines, and job opportunities.
Sources: hyperlocalloop.com, hoodline.com
