Tiverton Council Approves License For New Grocery Store

Soon enough, Tiverton residents may not have to trek to in Portsmouth, Lees Market in Westport or to one of the large grocery stores sprawled in southern Fall River to get their groceries.

In a 6-0 vote Tuesday night, the Town Council approved a victualling and holiday license for Thomas DeAngelis to operate Tom’s Market at 492 Main Road, which, if all remaining permitting gets approved, could be slated to open in November. Councilor Ed Roderick was absent from the meeting.

Tom’s Market's original location is in . It opened its second store in Warren in 2009, and in Tiverton is slated to operate in just under 9,000 square feet in the former space of the CVS Pharmacy next to . According to the owners, they're looking to start with 20 employees and have already been contacted by “quite a few people” seeking employment.

DeAngelis, co-owner, said the store will have prepared foods, a full service grocery and will look to sell whatever local produce they can.

“When we opened in Warren, we really liked what we saw as a community with a small town mentality,” DeAngelis said, adding that he thinks Tiverton can support their size. “We listen to the customers.”

In Warren, DeAngelis added that with its heavy Portuguese population, they brought in things customers wanted and continue to do so.

“Within a week we can get things on the shelf,” he added about new requested items.

Co-owner Glenn Place said they offer custom cut meats at their other stores, and said if people are curious about their operation, they should visit the Warren store at 137 Child Street.

He added they would like to have about 80 percent of their employees be from Tiverton. Over time, they would like to increase the workforce at the Tiverton locale to 32 to 34 employees.

Rumors of an unnamed grocer contacting the town began a few months ago at an Economic Development Commission meeting by Town Planner Chris Spencer. On Tuesday night, he said building permits have been filed with Building Official Gareth Ames, and there still needs to be a review by the fire marshal and the Department of Health.

Spencer added that their plans include some exterior work to the building, but nothing that will trigger deliberations from the Planning Board.

“There’s been a lot of discussion about bringing a grocery store back to Tiverton," said Councilor Robert Coulter to DeAngelis. “We wish you all the success with that.”