ANOTHER HURDLE IS CLEARED FOR STEW LEONARD’S
PROPOSED STORE IN ORANGE

ORANGE, Conn., Jan 19, 2007 – The State of Connecticut Appellate Court ruled today on a petition brought by opponents of Stew Leonard’s proposed store in Orange to appeal the approval granted by the Town Planning and Zoning’s Commission’s (TPZC).  The Appellate Court denied their request, thereby upholding the May 12, 2005 TPZC’s approval for Stew Leonard’s to build a fresh food store on the Marsh Hill Road site they have owned since 1996.

The opponents’ initial appeal to the Superior Court was dismissed in September, ruling that the residents had no legal standing to challenge the commission's decision, since they do not live within 100 feet of the site and could not prove that they would be aggrieved if the store were to be built.  The opponents then petitioned the Appellate Court.  Today’s ruling by the Appellate Court upholds the decision of the lower court, effectively ending any further legal action from the plaintiffs on the TPZC’s approval.

“Today’s ruling is significant for Stew Leonard’s, and brings us another step closer to being able to build a store on our site in Orange,” said Doug Hempstead, Stew Leonard’s Vice President.  “We are thrilled with this decision, and would like to thank the town of Orange and the community for their continued support.”

The opponents still have an appeal pending on the Inland Wetland’s approval in front of the Appellate Court.  The Appellate Court asked Superior Court Judge Thomas Nadeau for additional documentation, which is due to the Court on January 22.  It could then be another two months before the Appellate Court issues a ruling on whether they will hear the case.  If they deny this request, Stew Leonard’s has a green light to begin construction.  However, if the request to appeal is granted, the process could take another year or two.

Stew Leonard’s is currently building a fourth store location, in Newington, Conn. that is scheduled to open in April, 2007.

“We always said we would love to build a store in Orange.  We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and are confident that we will prevail in the Inland Wetlands case,” said Stew Leonard, Jr. president of the family business.

Stew Leonard’s, a family-owned and operated grocery founded in 1969, has three stores in Norwalk and Danbury, Conn. and Yonkers, NY. with a fourth store planned for 2007 in Newington, Conn.  The company was named among FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” for the past six consecutive years.   For more information, visit Stew Leonard’s website at www.stewleonards.com.