Sahadi's Expansion Plans Get Final Approval

Everything is coming up

Owner Charlie Sahadi will be crowned " next week, and the family-run business just found out they were given the go-ahead to begin their

"This project was a long time in the planning stages and we are delighted to begin work," said Christine Whalen, daughter of Charlie Sahadi and the family member spearheading the expansion plans.

Sahadi’s plans to connect their current two Atlantic Avenue storefronts by building over an outdoor courtyard. Although the construction will add only 270 square feet to their property, it will allow them to access an additional 2,500 square feet of usable store space. The expansion requireed the approval of a land-use variance by the Board of Standards and Appeals.

The property, built in 1886 and altered in 1962, was constructed before the current zoning resolution was put in place, and it is already a denser development than the current zoning rules would otherwise allow. (Sahadi’s has been at the location since 1948.)

According to the zoning regulations, a building in that spot would be limited to 8,080 square feet. The building is currently 14,510 square feet.

, and this week the family found out the Board of Standards and Appeals approved it as well.

Sahadi's hopes to break ground in January, 2012.

Whalen says what exactly will be expanded will be based on the customers' desires.

"We have been soliciting ideas from our loyal customers for years on what they would like to see if we had more departments," she said.

Top ideas are: expanding the cheese department to include service cheese, expanding the bread department or exapanding the dessert or pastry department.

"It is all open for suggestions," said Whalen. "It is a very exciting time."