NORWICH — A month after the closing of the Grand Union store at 54 East Main Street, officials continue to search for a future tenant. Yet, at this time, there are no updates on the empty building.

City of Norwich Mayor Robert Jeffrey said he will give an update once he has additional information and said since the store’s closing in February, leasing the building has been a priority.

“We will continue to work tirelessly on getting a grocery store into the City of Norwich and we greatly look forward to welcoming and supporting that store into our community,” said Jeffrey.

He noted he contacted U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, state Senator Peter Oberacker and New York Assemblyman Joe Angelino (NY-121) and Josh Riley (NY-19), as well as Chenango County Planning and Commerce Chenango.

They also held an in-person meeting with key stakeholders and had conversations about the future of the plaza, and concerns associated with no grocery store within the city.

With nearly 60,000 square feet, Jeffrey said the building can take on a large volume of business, but being so large, it may be too much space for today’s modern grocery store.

If the property owner decides to subdivide the space, The National Grocer’s Association said it could be more agreeable for a larger scale grocer.

While the community waits for answers, the return of Chenango County public transportation brings relief to many neighborhood residents, taking them to local grocery stores for their shopping needs. Yet they are concerned about who will move into the plaza and when.

Recently, area residents took to social media, suggesting ideas to fill the old Grand Union store such as putting in a bowling alley, a farmers’ market, a kids' fun zone, go-carts, and some mentioned moving city government offices to the plaza, instead of constructing a new multi-million dollar building.