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Waffle maker plans frozen food plant in former Rochester-area Sam’s Club
A frozen food manufacturer, Waffle8er, is planning to move into the former Sam's Club warehouse space in Elm Ridge Center. (File photo provided by Wegman Companies)
A frozen food manufacturer, Waffle8er, is planning to move into the former Sam's Club warehouse space in Elm Ridge Center. (File photo provided by Wegman Companies)
Waffle maker plans frozen food plant in former Rochester-area Sam’s Club
Listen to this articleThe owner of a commercial bakery that supplies pies to a variety of major supermarkets is proposing conversion of the former Sam’s Club property in Greece into a frozen food manufacturing facility that will be capable of producing 840 million waffles a year.
Mike Pinkowski, owner of Henrietta-based SatisPie, plans to launch Waffle8er operations in the vacant 133,000-square-foot warehouse space that was home to Sam’s Club until January of 2018.
The County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) will host a public hearing on the proposed $8.665 million project at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12 at Greece Town Hall.
Waffle8er is seeking a combined $2.5 million in property tax, sales tax and mortgage recording tax exemptions. Once fully operational, the facility would have 188 employees.
An analysis of the project by MRB Group for COMIDA determined there would be a benefit/cost ratio of 75:1 based on the direct and indirect economic impact of jobs and sales.
Waffle8er would convert the vacant retail space at 3780 West Ridge Road from a dry storage warehouse into a food manufacturing plant, and then invest up to $30 million over five years in equipment and leasehold improvements, according to the COMIDA application.
The application for the PILOT agreement and other tax exemptions says the incentives are necessary because of the large capital expenditures necessary in starting a food manufacturing and cold storage facility.
Pinkowski is listed as president and majority owner. Jay Wegman, whose firm, Wegman Companies Inc., owns the plaza, and William Dolan II are listed as vice presidents and minority owners.
The application says SatisPie will continue to operate at 155 Balta Dr.
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