The Kroger Co. will have an Aug. 22 groundbreaking ceremony for a new Kroger Marketplace shopping center on 25 acres at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue.
The Kroger Co. announced Monday that it will have a Thursday morning groundbreaking ceremony for its new Marketplace store in Oak Ridge.
Demolition and land clearing work is already under way at the 25-acre site northeast of the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue, and a Kroger spokesman has said building construction at the shopping center could start in October.
The groundbreaking on Thursday, Aug. 22, will be at 10 a.m.
Called the Westcott Center, the new, 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace will offer a number of services and specialty shops, including Fred Meyer Jewelry, The Little Clinic, a drive-through pharmacy, Starbucks Coffee, a Bistro, Sushi Station, Baby World, and a nine-dispenser Kroger Fuel Center.
The shopping center is named in honor of James Edward Westcott, the official government photographer in Oak Ridge during World War II, when the city was quickly built to help enrich uranium for the world’s first atomic bombs as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project.
Kroger said construction work at the site began July 29, and the new store is expected to open in July 2014. In addition to the Kroger Marketplace and Fuel Center, Westcott Center will house a 12,600-square-foot, multi-use retail shop—as well as five, one-acre outparcels for future retail development, a press release said.
For additional information or to RSVP for the groundbreaking, call (865) 483-1321 or send an e-mail to Greta Ownby at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at ownby@orcc.org.
Dave Smith says
I know there are very many people who were thrilled by the removal of those decrepit motels at the corner of the Turnpike and Illinois. What a continuing eyesore those two were for several decades–right there at the busiest intersection in town.
On his blog, KNS reporter Frank Munger posted a photo taken of that very corner in 1944 . The eponymous photographer could not have imagined the development 70 years in the future. See
http://knoxblogs.com/atomiccity/2012/12/24/back_when_shopping_was_an_adve/
JM says
Heard that Zoe’s Kitchen may be joining Krogers! Sure hope that’s true 🙂
Carol Donath says
It’s amazing how much they have cleared in such a short time, but I am wondering when the church will be razed or has it been today? It must be heart breaking for the members. I’m also sad to see the trees gone as well, but I know they probably had to have a clean slate. Hope they will include some trees in the landscape.
johnhuotari says
Carol, the last information I heard, if I recall it correctly, is that the church members can use the current building until the new building is completed in front of the Federal Building.
Carol Donath says
Thanks, John.
johnhuotari says
You’re welcome.