125‑Unit Apartment Project Revives Former Geissler’s Plaza in South Windsor

South Windsor is buzzing again over a long‑standing plan to re‑imagine the former Geissler’s Supermarket plaza on Sullivan Avenue. After a fresh application landed on the Inland Wetlands Agency’s desk on Sept. 2, the town has slated a public hearing for Oct. 7.

The mixed‑use vision calls for four new residential structures that together would house 125 apartments. Two of those buildings would hold 36 units each, while the other two would provide 41 and 12 units respectively. A modest clubhouse, dedicated parking areas, and upgraded storm‑water systems are also part of the package.

On the commercial side, about 61,000 sq ft of retail space would stay in place, undergoing modest upgrades. The project would replace the former Hot Leathers building at 1017 Sullivan Ave., but three neighboring storefronts would remain, preserving the plaza’s familiar feel.

Geissler’s, a family‑owned grocery chain that served the community for decades, closed its South Windsor location in 2025. The site has lingered in limbo ever since, with the Planning and Zoning Commission granting a zone change and a general development plan back in June 2021.

That 2021 approval came with a condition that the developer coordinate a sidewalk link between the plaza and Ayers Road—a stipulation that later sparked a legal spat. The dispute was settled in 2023 when the town swapped the sidewalk requirement for an ornamental fence along Sullivan Avenue.

Now, the freshly filed application is the last major hurdle before construction can truly begin. The Inland Wetlands Agency has yet to sign off, so the town’s residents will get a chance to weigh in at the upcoming hearing.

If you live nearby, keep an eye on town notices and consider joining the conversation—this redevelopment could reshape a familiar corner of South Windsor for years to come.