The frontrunner for the space is Jim McInnis, owner of Village Market, Inc., who runs a pair of supermarkets in Roslindale and Scituate and has been working since December to bring a store to Duxbury.

McInnis said last week that negotiations, while slow to develop, are moving forward between his company, Grand Union parent company C&S Wholesale Grocers and the plaza’s landlord, Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company.

“I think before, all three parties weren’t talking, but there’s been a little progress now,” said McInnis.

This progress includes a verbal agreement with C&S to take over their lease on the property contingent on negotiating a long-term lease with the landlord.  The next round of negotiations, however, may take some time, according to McInnis.

“[The landlord] told me that we are about 30-60 days from a lease because of ëadministrative issues’ with the property and the trust that owns it,” he said.  “He didn’t give me a lot of details, but told me to sit tight.”

McInnis said he will remain patient and is “50 percent sure” that an agreement can be worked out that would bring a Village Market to Depot Street.  He has worked out a budget for the new endeavor, but is spending most of his time focusing on his two existing stores.

“I haven’t put any money out there yet and I have to meet with vendors and work on hiring, but I have two stores now that require my energy and I can only give so much [to a potential Duxbury location],” he said.

Repeated attempts to reach Bill Kaull, property manager for the A&P Plaza, were unsuccessful as of press time.  Phone calls to Carl Wistreich, senior vice president and deputy general counsel for C&S were also not returned.

As the waiting game continues, McInnis said he visited the store as recently as a few weeks ago and said there are definitely things that need to be done with the inside and some new equipment that is needed before it is fully functional.  Another issue that McInnis said he was concerned with is the building’s septic system.

“The septic works fineÖbut down the road there may be a problem,” he said.  “If I’m on the lease, I’d be the one to foot the bill, so that will be part of my negotiations with the landlord.”

McInnis said he expects a good exchange with Kaull and his company and that the two sides can come to an agreement to bring a supermarket back to town.

“I want to put a store there and it is feasible,” he said.  “I need the right lease to make it happen and it’s between the landlord and I to make that deal.”