Alterra Property Group’s controversial plan to build a three-story apartment building with retail space at the former Acme site in Gladwyne has been scrapped in favor of McCaffrey’s Food Markets moving into the vacant store, writes Natalie Kostelni for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Alterra’s original proposal caused an uproar among residents, prompting the community to organize under the “Save Gladwyne Village” moniker. Residents then became a force against the project, which caused an uproar when it received favorable zoning approval from Lower Merion.

The former Acme space in Gladwyne, which closed in 2019, has a 27,500-square-foot retail space, yet sat vacant since its closure.

And while Altera, which currently has the property under agreement, saw great potential in the site for a mixed-use development, opposition to the project instead tipped the scale in favor of filling it with another grocery store.

“McCaffrey’s was most interested in the location and least daunted by the nearby competition,” said Leo Addimando, managing partner of Alterra. “Frankly, I think they have the right offering and the right formula to compete and be successful there.”

McCaffrey’s operates eight stores throughout the region, including in Blue Bell, New Hope, Yardley, and Newtown.

Read more about McCaffrey’s Food Markets in the Philadelphia Business Journal.