WSAZ - HomePage - Local News, Severe Weather and Breaking News Coverage for West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky

UPDATE: Construction Set to Get Underway on Expansion at Ashton Place Kroger

Print
By: Katelyn Sykes Email
Updated: Thu 10:13 AM, Sep 13, 2012

UPDATE 9/13/12 @ 10:05 a.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Construction should begin soon at the Kroger store at Ashton Place in Charleston.

The Board of Zoning approved a parking variance at its Thursday meeting, allowing the project to move forward. A business is normally required to have four parking spaces for everything 1,000 square feet. Kroger's expansion project would only have about 3.6 spaces.

The store plans to expand its floral, produce, frozen food, bakery and deli departments inside, which could also bring at least 50 more jobs to the area.

There's also plans to add a Wi-Fi lounge at the Ashton Place location.

Back in August, Charleston City Council passed a bill that allows the city to sell city property around the store -- essentially making room for the renovation.

No word on when construction will get underway or be finished.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.



UPDATE 8/20/12 @ 11:50 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Plans to expand the Kroger store at Ashton Place took another step Monday night.

Charleston City Council passed a bill that allows Mayor Danny Jones to sell city property around the store -- essentially making room for the renovation.

In addition to expansion, Kroger plans to add a Wi-Fi lounge. As many as 50 new jobs are expected to be created.



ORIGINAL STORY 8/7/12
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Charleston business is preparing for a multimillion dollar expansion and renovation, and city leaders said it could bring more jobs to the area.

It represents a big project with even bigger rewards.

"They're investing in Charleston and during these particular times, it's just real gratifying to have them come and invest here and build this new expansion," Charleston City Councilwoman Jack Harrison said.

Harrison said the Ashton Place Kroger approached the city years ago about expanding.

But now two bills have passed to get the project moving, one of which is the sale of city property to Kroger. That will allow the store to build out.

"This is what we're talking about, where the new expansion will go,” Harrison said. “This is the employee parking lot that you have here. And the new addition will encompass this entire area, so you can see it's going to be a pretty large expansion."

The plan doesn’t stop there. The store wants to expand its floral, produce, frozen food, bakery and deli departments inside, which could also bring more jobs to the area.

It’s a move shoppers also are excited about.

"I've experienced Kroger in not only this one but others in this immediate area, plus out of state,” shopper Tom Bailey said. “And this has to be the best Kroger in the whole chain of Kroger stores, at least in my opinion."

It's a store shoppers and city leaders said will only get better. Harrison said 25,000 cars go in and out of its parking lot every day, and he expects that number to grow with the completed expansion, allowing the city to also cash in.

Harrison said he isn’t sure when construction will start.

The project is expected to cost about $10 million.


Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
powered by Disqus
$105,000,000
Click here to send us your pictures and video pix@wsaz.com

CNN.com News Headlines

WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links

Download the WSAZ First Warning Weather App to your iOS or Android devices. It's FREE, sponsored by St Mary's Medical Center.
West Virginia Lottery nightly @ 6:59pm on WSAZ click here for numbers and drawings
Check out the WV Lottery HD Weather Cameras here. Watch the Lottery Live Monday - Saturday @ 6:59pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3.
Ohio Lottery
Watch the Ohio Lottery Drawings weeknights @ 7:29pm and Cash Explosion Saturday @ 7:30pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3.
SOMC-Very good things are happening here
Click here to view the LIVE Ashland Kentucky or Portsmouth Ohio weather cameras sponsored by SOMC
A WSAZ Salute to...
Join us as we salute our communities, recreation, fairs and festivals.
Making Moms LIfe Easier
Tips, tricks and stories about making Moms Life Easier from local sources and across the country.
WSAZ Children's Charitable Foundation
WSAZ Children's Charities. Click here for more information and to donate. Thank you.
WSAZ NewsChannel 3 645 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 304-697-4780 WSAZ Charleston 111 Columbia Avenue Charleston, WV 25302 304-344-3521
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2013 - Designed by Gray Digital Media - Powered by Clickability
User Agent: CCBot/2.0 - 165328156