As appeared in Columbus Business First

Kroger building Marketplace store in Lewis Center

By Business First

Kroger Co. is set to begin construction next week on its first grocery-and- merchandise store in Delaware County.

The Cincinnati-based supermarket chain said construction will begin January 12, 2009 on a 124,000-square-foot Marketplace store in Lewis Center, part of the 256-acre Olentangy Crossings development just east of Route 23. Delaware County is home to seven other Kroger stores, but the new one will be the county's first Marketplace, which combines general merchandise with groceries.

The new store, a $12 million investment for the company, will employ about 200 and feature an in-store bistro, Chinese food bar, sushi bar and a bed and bath section. The store also will have a drive-through pharmacy and a gas station, the company said.

A company spokeswoman declined to give target dates for the completion of construction or the store's opening, but said Kroger hopes to have the store open this year.

Kroger said it chose Lewis Center because of its rapidly growing population, a trend seen throughout Delaware County this decade. According to the Census Bureau, Delaware County from 2000 through 2005 was one of the 20 fastest-growing counties in the nation. Despite a recent slowdown, the county remained among the 100-fastest growing counties nationwide from mid-2006 through July 2007, according to the latest statistics available.

Kroger runs nearly 2,500 supermarkets and Marketplace stores in 31 states. Central Ohio is home to more than 70 stores. The company operates a 900-employee Kroger distribution center in Delaware County.