Salvation Army Will Seek Permit for Binghamton Site

The nonprofit plans to transform a former supermarket space into a new retail, warehouse, and distribution facility.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Isometric editorial illustration of a generic warehouse building with loading bays, representing a proposed facility conversion project. — The Salvation Army has requested a special use permit from the Binghamton Planning Commission to convert a former supermarket into a distribution hub. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Salvation Army is requesting a special use permit to repurpose the former supermarket at 307 Conklin Avenue in Binghamton. The Binghamton Planning Commission will review this proposal at its meeting on October 6, 2026.

Why it matters

The proposed facility would consolidate operations for the organization following the closure of its Griswold Street thrift store in July 2024. The project aims to provide a new hub for retail and distribution services in the South Side neighborhood.

The proposed project involves a 44,000-square-foot building at 307 Conklin Avenue. The site has a long history of grocery operations, first opening as a Giant Food Market in 1964 before serving as a Weis Markets location until March 2024.

The players

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is an international charitable organization that provides various social services and operates thrift stores to fund its mission.

Binghamton Planning Commission

The Binghamton Planning Commission is the local municipal body responsible for reviewing zoning applications and land use permits in the city.

The details

The Salvation Army is seeking to transform the vacant property into a multi-purpose retail, warehouse, and distribution center. The organization is currently transitioning operations from a smaller site on Griswold Street.

1964: Original Giant Food Market opened at the site.
March 2024: Weis Markets store went out of business.
July 2024: The Salvation Army closed its Griswold Street thrift store.
October 6, 2026: Binghamton Planning Commission meets.

Market Landscape

This application marks a significant expansion for the organization, moving its local operations into a space substantially larger than its previous thrift store footprint. The transition mirrors a broader trend of nonprofits repurposing abandoned large-box retail real estate to consolidate logistics and sales.

Residents in the South Side neighborhood may see the reactivation of a long-vacant commercial property if the commission approves the permit. This development could provide new access to thrift retail services and community distribution points near the Conklin Avenue corridor.

The takeaway

The reuse of the 44,000-square-foot former supermarket represents a strategic shift toward larger warehouse and retail operations for the local organization. Readers should monitor upcoming city commission meetings for official outcomes regarding the building's future usage.