Chichester Market construction well underway, with anticipated late-summer opening

The corner of Dover Road and Main Street in Chichester has a new presence: a large, barn-like structure that will soon become the home of the Chichester Market.

When Jason McKay took over Healthy Buffalo in 2024, he had a larger vision for his business. With the exotic meat store, also on Dover Road, thriving and a desire to bring more local food to Route 4, he began formulating plans for a market and got to work building his dream business.

Now, McKay estimates construction is about three-quarters finished at this point, with most of the remaining work being interior.

“It was a little stressful at first, but now that we’re out of winter, everything’s going along really well. So it’s been great,” he said.

The lifelong Chichester resident hopes to be able to open in August but recognizes that construction often hits snags.

“There’s going to be like a little, it’s almost like a farmer’s porch, overlooking Route 4. So in the summer, nice weather, people could sit outside and eat if they want to,” he said.

The market will feature a grocery section where customers can do their regular shopping, as well as a butcher counter and a place for customers to order grab-and-go food.

“We’re going to try to use fresh, good products and sandwiches, as well as the more standard options,” McKay said. “On the menu, there’ll be probably a couple hot food items a day.”

He initially thought he’d combine the market with Healthy Buffalo, but because of branding and how well the exotic meat store has been doing, he plans to keep both businesses separate. There will be a place in the market for people to purchase the bestsellers from Healthy Buffalo.

“Hopefully, when people are just inside shopping for the regular grocery items, they’ll see and be interested in trying something that they wouldn’t normally stop into the Healthy Buffalo for.”

McKay has been working with Associated Grocers to source many of the food items, as well as intentionally seeking out local goods to supplement the groceries.

The process has been an exciting one, he said. He looks forward to being able to soon share the Chichester Market with his community.

“Now that they’re working on the inside, it’s been fun. I’m there almost every day, answering a lot of different questions and kind of fine-tuning what’s happening inside to what our view is,” he said.