Officials fear it is imminent that the grocery store will leave Phillipsburg.
Months after the building's owner openly started seeking a new tenant, Phillipsburg's leaders worry the departure of the town's grocery store is imminent.
"They're ready to move out," Mayor Stephen Ellis said Tuesday of Ahart's Market on Route 22. "We cannot afford not to have that store there."
Ahart's is the only full-size grocery store in town, with the next closest in Pohatcong and Greenwich townships. The store, part of the Great Valu Food Markets group, has four locations in Pennsylvania.
The property's Realtor United States Land Resources, based in Morristown, in December set up a sign in front of the building at 680 Memorial Parkway offering the property for lease.
Ellis suggested rent and disputes between the landlord and tenant over property upkeep may be forcing the market out. Neither the Realtor nor store owner George Ahart immediately returned requests for comment Wednesday.
The property is owned by a holding company also based in Morristown, which did not immediately return a call for comment.
Will P'burg town hall return to Main Street?
At Tuesday night's council meeting, Councilman Joshua Davis floated the idea of a tax deferment program to keep Ahart's in place. But officials were also openly considering life without the store.
Ellis said other possibilities like a dollar store are being considered, and at one point appealed directly to residents for possible leads.
"If you have any connections at all, please give us a call," he said.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.