"Of course, the first question out of the reporters' mouths is, 'Would you leave Camden?' " he said. "We've never threatened to leave. We want to stay. We're committed."
But standing in the way of Campbell's expansion is another Camden icon, albeit a dilapidated one - the Sears Roebuck & Co. building, a national historic landmark built in 1927.
The building, renowned for its Greek Revival-style architecture, mostly has been vacant since 1971, when Sears opened a department store in Moorestown.
Campbell's wants to raze the Sears building, which was bought last year by Dr. Denim, a Philadelphia clothing retailer. Preservationists and activists have vowed to stop the demolition.
"Why can't Campbell's build around it?" asked Frank Fulbrook, a Camden activist. "I see no reason why you can't have Dr. Denim and Campbell's being neighbors - and leave the Sears building alone."
Dr. Denim's owner, Ilan Zaken, did not return phone calls seeking comment on his plans. Fulbrook said Zaken planned to spend $1 million to rehab the space for warehousing, retail space and a recording studio.
According to Sanzio, experts hired by Campbell said that just making the Sears building habitable would cost $6 million; there are no working restrooms, the copper plumbing has been stripped, and rainwater pours through the roof.
But the building has gotten a reprieve thanks to a lawsuit Fulbrook filed. He argued that Camden Planning Board Chairman Rodney Sadler had a conflict of interest when he presided over an April meeting that approved Campbell's plan.
Sadler is a nonvoting member of the state's Economic Development Authority, which endorses Campbell's proposal.
Last week, Superior Court Judge Francis J. Orlando agreed that Sadler's participation was a conflict, even though Sadler recused himself from voting on the plan.
Campbell's can appeal Orlando's decision or ask the planning board to hear the matter again without Sadler.
