Kroger continues to expand in Central Virginia

Kroger wants to open another mega store in Central Virginia.  The company announced plans to redevelop the former site of the Colonial Heights Courthouse into a 90,000-square-foot store that will include a Kroger Fuel Center with nine fuel pumps and a drive-thru pharmacy.

The addition would be the grocery store chain’s 18th store in the region, following the opening of the Staples Mill Marketplace store in Henrico County. That store is currently under construction.

Kroger said in a news release that its Mid-Atlantic division, based in Roanoke, and Colonial Heights city staff have reached a tentative agreement on a development plan that would include acquisition of the existing courthouse site at 401 Temple Ave. in the city’s downtown area.  The Colonial Heights City Council will conduct a public hearing and consider formal approval of the agreement at its regular meeting tomorrow.

“I am very excited about recommending this unique development proposal to the City Council,” Colonial Heights City Manager Tom Mattis, said in a statement. “Not only will this project bring many direct financial benefits to the city, it includes a partnership opportunity with Kroger to bring its first Tri-Cities store to our community.”

Projected to open in the summer of 2015, the Colonial Heights Kroger is expected to employ more than 200 people. “We’ve long wanted to serve the Tri-Cities Area and deliver the Kroger experience to new customers,” said Jay Cummins, Kroger Mid-Atlantic president.

Currently, the Southpark Mall area is the central hub for shopping and commerce in the Tri-Cities Area. The Colonial Heights Kroger will be the first grocer to build on the west side of Interstate 95.

The city is in the final stages of construction on a new courthouse that will open in October at 231 Chesterfield Ave. If the new store wins approval, Kroger plans to being work on the Colonial Heights project in mid-2014.