Newton Asian Mart, the Asian supermarket in the former Walgreens space in Newton Centre, has received a temporary Certificate of Occupancy from the City, clearing the way for the store to open after a stop-work order halted activity in late April.
City permit records show the temporary certificate (BTCO-26-28) was issued June 9. Fire-related permits that had been flagged as outstanding — including fire alarm and sprinkler approvals — now show as complete.
On April 24, the store at 22-28 Langley Road received a stop-work order citing the lack of a Certificate of Occupancy. At the time, the store appeared ready to open, with stocked shelves, filled tanks ready for seafood, and pallets of bagged rice visible through the front window, but it had several permits that had not been closed. The store has displayed signs saying “Fire Alarm Testing in Progress” for the past several weeks.
It was the second stop-work order at the site this year. A previous order in January followed the expiration of the project’s Food Establishment Plan Review permit.
When contacted in April, the City’s Director of Economic Development, Lauren Berman, said, “Our goal is always to help businesses open quickly while following the city’s regulations.”
The business owner, Miao Kun Fang, could not be reached for comment on next steps. A hiring sign posted in Chinese lists openings across several departments, including dry goods, frozen foods, meat, fish, cashier, and cleaning. The store appears ready with fully stocked shelves except for fresh produce and seafood.