Update 2:50 p.m. Cincinnati-Dayton Division President Tim Brown says the store will be twice the size of the Vine Street grocery it's replacing.
"Following the success of our two-story Corryville store… the grocery store will be located on the first floor. On the second floor we'll have a bar housed alongside our beer and wine selection, as well as the food hall featuring several local food venders and restaurant style seating."
Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black says it doesn't hurt that Kroger's corporate headquarters is just a block away. "This will be a transformative development project that will not only provide quality of life enhancement opportunities for the Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine but all of the other neighborhoods that abut this particular location."
Original post: Kroger plans to build a new store on what is now a Downtown parking lot. The store will be part of an 18-story mixed use development at the corner of Walnut and Court streets. The new building will include a 555 space parking garage and 139 market rate apartments.
The new store will replace the Kroger supermarket on Vine in Over-the-Rhine, and will be a block away from the grocer's corporate headquarters. The company says the 45,000 square foot, first floor space will be twice the size of the Vine Street store. A food court and bar will be on the second floor along with a beer and wine section.
Kroger expects to have 160 employees at the new store.
The entire development will cost about $90.5 million, and is a collaborative project. Kroger is investing $19 million on the store. The City of Cincinnati will contribute $8.5 million in a grant, alongside $2.5 million from federal and state tax credits. The city will own the parking garage, but it will be operated by 3CDC. North American Properties, NorthPointe Group, and Rookwood Properties will develop, own, and manage the apartments.
Construction is expected to begin this summer. Completion is planned for the middle of 2019.
