The long-debated Byrne Dairy project in Weedsport has entered its final phase, with construction advancing rapidly and an opening now expected later this month.
Photos shared over the weekend show major progress at the former Shurfine site, including the installation of fuel pumps and significant work on the convenience store building. Local observers reported the store is expected to open in June, marking the latest milestone in a redevelopment effort that has transformed one of the village’s most prominent commercial properties.
The project has been one of the most closely watched developments in Weedsport over the past year. Byrne Dairy’s proposal to replace the former grocery store with a gas station and convenience store generated months of public debate, with residents and business owners raising concerns about traffic, lighting, noise, property values and the loss of a grocery option in the village.
In January, the Weedsport Zoning Board of Appeals approved a key parking variance needed for the project, despite continued objections from nearby residents and neighboring businesses. Board members voted 3-1 to grant the variance after Byrne Dairy agreed to continue working with the planning board on measures aimed at addressing community concerns, including landscaping and screening improvements.
Demolition of the former Shurfine building began in February after the project received final approvals from local boards. Construction crews have spent the spring preparing the site and building the new store, with visible progress accelerating in recent weeks.
As of June 1, the project appears on track for its anticipated June opening. Once completed, the new Byrne Dairy will bring a convenience store and fuel station back to a property that has sat vacant since the closure of Shurfine, ending a redevelopment process that sparked some of the most extensive public discussion seen in the village in recent years.
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