JLL has completed a new lease for the Daily Bread Food Pantry at 125 Park St. in Danbury, Conn., the former home of the U.S. Military Museum that closed in 2017. The firm represented the Daily Bread Food Pantry in arranging a lease for 6,000 square feet on the ground floor of the property, which is owned by Orlando Properties LLC.
The location is 10 times larger than its former home in a rear building of St. James Episcopal Church on Terrace Place. As part of the Park Street transaction, Daily Bread completed a renovation of the property that included new building systems, new windows and exterior siding and an upgraded driveway, drive-in door and parking lot.
The tenant has built out the space as a “Super Pantry,” dramatically improving the shopping experience for clients, and positioning the organization to serve more people in need.
“This was an enormous project for an all-volunteer organization with limited funding. But with the help of an army of supporters we made it happen,” said Peter Kent, president of Daily Bread Food Pantry. “It’s not just an amazing new space, but a whole new way to think about what a modern food pantry should be.”
Ian Ceppos, executive vice president at JLL’s Stamford office, represented Daily Bread Food Pantry in the transaction.
He said, “As a Danbury resident, it’s gratifying to see firsthand the positive impact the new Daily Bread location makes as they serve over nearly 1,000 families each week in our community, making it the largest food pantry in the Greater Danbury area,” Ceppos said. “The Super Pantry is positioned to better help many neighbors in need for years to come and will serve as a model for other communities to follow.”
Located near the intersection of Route 7 and Interstate 84, the new food pantry features expanded inventory, point-based “pricing” with monthly allowances, cheerful signage with nutrition guidance, translation kiosks, a social service library, children’s book nook, large warehouse space with walk-in refrigeration, pallet racks and equipment to receive and rescue thousands of pounds of food weekly.
