CINCINNATI — Attention Kroger shoppers.
The new Court Street store Downtown will be open by the end of the month, Kroger officials announced Monday.
Store signs were also installed at the corner of Central Parkway and Walnut Street, intensifying the excitement for shoppers like Juanita Guilford, who is thankful for a store along her bus route.
“I can't believe it. It's much well needed down here,” Guilford said. “We need a Kroger down here something terrible. Like I said, I can get off and go to work, go shopping, get back on the bus again, and then go home.”
The store opens on Sept. 25 and will serve customers from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
The Kroger Co. CEO Rodney McMullen told shareholders during a June company meeting that the new store will be 45,000 square feet — twice the size of the Vine Street location.
Kroger will offer a variety of the traditional supermarket items, plus additional food options like grab-and-go meals.
“Downstairs in the store, a lot of things you can get quickly and take it on back to your office for lunch and same thing for dinner,” said corporate affairs manager Erin Rolfes.
Rolfes said shoppers may also be surprised by the size of the “ultra fresh produce” section.
“For a store this size the produce department is giant,” she said.
McMullen previously announced that five restaurants will operate in the Court Street store: Eli’s BBQ, Django Western Taco, Dope Asian Street Food, Queen City Whip and Kroger’s own restaurant concept, Kitchen 1883.
READ MORE: Kroger Co. reveals restaurant lineup for Downtown grocery store
Rolfes said two restaurants will serve breakfast, some will offer a weekend brunch and a happy hour will be available everyday.
Guilford said she has seen plenty of development in the area, but said a grocery store is what’s needed.
“They put up a lot of buildings, a lot of restaurants and bars,” she said. “But they have no grocery store down here.”
“This is the first Downtown Kroger store we've opened in 70 years,” Rolfes said, “so we're really excited to serve that growing population in the business district and Over-the-Rhine.”
And Rolfes said convenience is a top priority for the new location.
“We've got streetcar stops here, bus stops, bike racks - so we're going to make it nice and easy for you to get in, get what you need and get on home,” she said.
WCPO's Dan Monk contributed to this story.
