The Sears department store that has been an anchor of the Paramus Park mall since it opened in 1974 will be replaced by a Stew Leonard’s farm-style supermarket and a 12-screen movie theater under a plan submitted to Paramus zoning officials Thursday.

Plans for the redevelopment show the outside of the building will sport Stew Leonard’s signature farm silo. They also show the supermarket, which will occupy the first floor of the Sears building, will have a wine department, outdoor displays and seating areas for customers, and fresh food stations including a sushi bar and farm-style produce bins.

There is no mention in the application of a petting zoo or barnyard animals, which also are signature features at other Stew Leonard stores.

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Sea change for landmark mall

The addition of Stew Leonard’s, which turns grocery shopping into entertainment with costumed employees and animatronic animals like moo-ing cows and clucking chickens, signals a new chapter for the 43-year old suburban mall, and is another sign of the sea change hitting retail.

The space where Sears previously sold sweaters, shirts, washing machines and power tools now will devoted to food rather than fashion and home goods.

The Record previously reported in July that sources had confirmed Stew Leonard’s had signed a deal for space at the mall. At that time, the mall, Stew Leonard’s and the real estate holding company that controls the Sears building declined to comment.

Paramus Park mall and Stew Leonard's representatives again declined to comment Friday when contacted for this story.

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The application for zoning variances, however, clearly spells out that Stew Leonard’s is the intended tenant of the 169,000-square-foot Sears store, along with a movie theater that will include a bar and lounge. The operator of the movie theater is not named, but in a previous application for a movie theater at Paramus Park the proposed operator was identified as Regal Cinemas.

The 12-screen movie theater will have a bar, kitchen, and a lounge, along with two private rooms, according to the application. The movie theater will be located on the second floor of the Sears space.

There will be a new entrance, with an elevator and escalator, leading to the movie theater.

New addition? Paramus Park may be getting a Stew Leonard's grocery store

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Stew Leonard’s will occupy 79,452 square feet on the ground floor of Sears and 20,743 on the second floor, which will be used for office space and an employee break room and cafeteria.

The movie theater will occupy 60,353 square feet on the second floor.

Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said the Stew Leonard's news is evidence that recent changes in the borough's master plan is starting to reap benefits. A zoning change that allowed The Valley Hospital to relocate to Paramus, near the mall, will bring new customers to Paramus Park and help it attract high-powered tenants such as Stew Leonard's, the mayor said.

"We've put a lot of things in place to make sure that Paramus continues to thrive and remains vital in the retail marketplace," LaBarbiera said. "Now you have a great new tenant coming in to replace an older use such as Sears."

Merchants at the mall Friday said privately that they are glad to see new tenants coming in, but they are concerned that a lengthy construction period could hurt their businesses. They also questioned whether Stew Leonard's shoppers would also patronize the rest of the mall.

The plan will be subject to final approval by the borough’s zoning board of adjustment. Hearings on the plan are expected to be held next year.

A separate building at the mall, that currently houses the Sears Tire and Auto Center will be converted into a smaller Sears store.

Shrinking Sears

Sears, which is struggling to stay afloat, has been selling off its real estate and typically converts its large department stores into smaller locations that only sell appliances and tools.

Stew Leonard’s has three grocery stores in Connecticut and three in New York. Its sixth, and newest store, in East Meadow, N.Y., opened in August. The company also licenses the Stew Leonard’s name to nine wine stores that are independently owned. There is a Stew Leonard’s Wines store in Paramus on Route 17, and one in Clifton.

The stores are as large, or larger than most full-size grocery stores, but carry only 2,200 items, unlike the 45,000 separate items on the shelves at a traditional grocery store.

At Stew Leonard’s stores the emphasis is on fresh foods and produce. The stores have bakeries, butcher shops, fresh seafood, and hot and cold buffets.

Stew Leonard Sr. opened the original Stew Leonard’s store in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1969, on the site of a small dairy farm founded by his father. The store was gradually expanded to 103,000 square feet, and the company’s largest store, the 130,000 square foot Danbury, Connecticut, store, opened in 1999.

The company’s two newest stores, in Farmingdale and East Meadow, New York, have been smaller, at 65,000 and 70,000 square feet, respectively.