LONGMEADOW, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – Construction for the new and improved Maple Center Shopping Plaza in Longmeadow is almost complete. The work comes nearly three years after the original plaza suffered immense damage from a four-alarm fire just before Thanksgiving in 2021. Jim Reardon, the leasing agent for NAI Plotkin, confirmed to Western Mass News that plans for the new plaza include eight retail locations.

“So there’s been a lot of interest in our plaza. We have some shops that are probably coming back that were here prior: the Asian restaurant, the nail salon. There’ll probably be a liquor store, a convenience store, possibly a bank, and we’re in conversations with a number of different outlets, including an outdoor recreation store as well,” Reardon explained.

After nearly a three-year wait, Reardon said local residents are eager to see the new developments. “Actually, I live in the neighborhood, so there is a lot of interest in what’s coming back here. This is a prime location,” he noted.

Construction has been progressing since the fire left nothing but a pile of rubble. “We are now just about near the end. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re waiting on electric meters and then I’ll have gas meters and then we’ll have heat and hot water. I’m hoping to be substantially completed before Thanksgiving,” Reardon added.

Notably, Armata’s Market, which was once a staple at the location, will not be returning, but NAI Global is hopeful that something will soon take its place.

“I can tell you that there is a lot of interest. This is a prime retail location and now that we’ve got the construction well underway and the parking lot done, we’re getting calls every day with potential tenants,” said Michael Derosia with Bowdoin Construction.

Despite the interest, officials said they currently can’t reveal who is looking at that space that was once home to Armata’s.

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