Those who have been awaiting the grand-opening of the Cazenovia Family Dollar will have to wait a little longer.

The vacant 8,750 square-foot retail space, located between Rite Aid and Tops Supermarket in the Town and Country Plaza, was expected to be converted into a discount variety store and opened for business by Sept. 1, but still has yet to be utilized.

Property developer David Muraco, who owns the space, said that plans are still moving forward, although not as quickly as he first imagined. “It’s still a go, it’s just on hold right now,” he said. “I’m keeping positive. It’s a large company and they’re opening many new locations. They’re just unable to process things quickly. I thought we would’ve gotten the store built and opened before Christmas, but now, that’s not going to happen.”

Negotiations between Family Dollar and Tops Supermarket have slowed the progress, and with winter weather approaching quickly, it seems it will be early 2012 before the discount store’s doors are opened to area residents.

Muraco said he hopes to have Family Dollar move into the building as soon as possible, but he is keeping an open mind toward other uses. The retail space used to house Mackinnon Liquors, the video-rental franchise Movie Gallery and Curves, a fitness center for women. Vacant since late March, the space is located in an attractive area for businesses, along Route 20 in a highly-utilized shopping plaza.

Within the month of October, Family Dollar is opening 27 new stores nationwide, adding to the more than 7000 locations the company currently owns in 44 states. For more information, call 866-377-6420 or visit their website, familydollar.com.

Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338 or [email protected].