In A Few Months, Supermarket La Placita, With Latin American Focus, May Open On Main Street

EAST HAVEN, CT — At least a few months remain before a building permit is submitted and the proposal returns to the East Haven Planning and Zoning Commission, but an international grocery store specializing in Latin American foods could soon take over the former Rite Aid site.

This would be the second Connecticut location for La Placita market.

According to town documents and Planning and Zoning administrator and Zoning Enforcement Officer Joe Budrow, the supermarket’s site plan was approved by the board last week.

The proposal calls for a grocery store at 588 Main St. within the existing commercial building, along with exterior walk-in coolers and a 50-by-94-foot addition on the building’s north side.

Budrow said the applicant’s final step is submitting a zoning permit application. He added that the applicant indicated a building permit submission is still “a few months away,” and he recommended filing the zoning permit application shortly before that.

About La Placita

Described as “young and ambitious,” Ecuadorian immigrant Wilson Narvaez worked his way up in a Bronx supermarket, gaining experience that inspired him to open a store of his own.

After moving to Westchester County, Narvaez recognized a lack of international grocery options for local consumers. In July 2002, he opened La Placita in Ossining, New York. The market offers a wide selection of international products sourced from independent vendors across the tri-state area.

The family-oriented supermarket has since expanded to six locations, employs more than 200 associates, and continues to pursue future growth.

"We devote time into bringing international products and ingredients from South and Central America that will have customers feeling right at home," the company notes on its website.