A Stewart’s Shops is under construction in the Town of Norwich on State Highway 23 and County Road 32. It’s expected to be completed this July. (Photo by Rebecca Laibowitz)

NORWICH – Stewart's Shops, and its ice cream, are an Upstate New York icon. If you've driven on NY State Highway 23 or County Road 32, into Norwich anytime recently, you've probably noticed the demolition of an older Stewart's Shops location. At the same spot, a new, larger Stewart's Shops is currently under construction.

“It's very impressive what they're building and putting in. I'm glad they stayed here in the Town of Norwich,” said Town of Norwich Supervisor, Stanley Foulds.

Plans for the site include a 4,500 square feet convenience store, a four pump fuel canopy, a two pump high flow diesel canopy, and 28 parking spaces around the building. The project plans have been reviewed and approved by the town, county, and state departments that it is subject to, up to this point.

Town of Norwich Planning Board Chair, Ted Guinn, said, “We reviewed it and finalized it in October 2025, and they started construction about a month ago.”

The NYSDOT made a recommendation that the project include a new sidewalk along the site's frontage along County Road 32, in anticipation of increased foot traffic to the store. As far as road traffic, Guinn doesn't think it will be much of an issue. He said, “It was already an existing gas station. There's entrances both on State Highway 23 and County Road 32,” adding that the ingress and egress to the site is more than adequate for traffic levels.

“It's going to be a nice building and a benefit to the corner,” said Guinn.

The location of the Stewart's Shops is directly across the street from another gas/convenience chain, Mirabito which houses a Dunkin.

“More services, more gas, is always good,” said Shane Butler Director of the Chenango County Planning Department. “Especially on that side of Norwich where people travel up 32. It makes for a reason for people to stop,” he added.

Sales at the new shop will benefit the community through increased sales taxes. Once opened, they expect the shop to provide new jobs as well. If you drive by right now there is even a help wanted advertisement posted near the construction site.

“I think a lot of people will go there because it's going to be a new store. I think Stewart's is a great name in this county and the State,” said Foulds, adding, “I think it's a positive, win-win for all of us. I can't wait for it to open.”

A sign posted along the construction site announces that the construction of the Stewart's Shops in Norwich will be completed and opened in July.