Renovations for the new Kroger grocery store on South University Drive will be complete in the early summer, a Kroger spokesman said.
Gary Huddleston, director of consumer affairs for Kroger Food Stores, said the company will take possession of the former Albertsons’ building March 1 and will begin renovations immediately. The company is in the process of drawing up blueprints, and the renovations are expected to take three months, he said.
Kroger plans to extensively remodel both the interior and the exterior of the building. Huddleston said that in addition to the typical supermarket products, the focus of the new store will be on “Kroger Fresh Fare,” which emphasizes perishables, meal replacements, takeout items and a deli.
Huddleston said the company will keep with the TCU atmosphere by selling university merchandise such as T-shirts at the new store.
The Albertsons on South University Drive closed last week and has reopened at 3563 Alton Road., the previous site of City Market. An Albertsons representative could not be reached for comment.
Huddleston said the close proximity of the store will create competition but added that Kroger Food Stores are competitively priced.
“We compete with Albertsons in other parts of the city, so we think that we provide great value to our customers and we compete very well with Albertsons,” Huddleston said.
Rumors about apartments being built above the new Kroger store are false, Huddleston.
Junior education major Mary Kathryn Netherton said she thought the addition of takeout items was a great idea.
“That’s perfect for a busy student,” Netherton said. “Especially takeout meals for one or two.”
Freshman psychology major Emma Algelt said the former Albertsons had everything she needed, but the new options will be a welcomed change.
“That will be really nice because in dorms because there isn’t much refrigerator space to keep food or a stove to cook a meal on,” she said.
However, Algelt said she will miss having such a close grocery store during the renovations because students without cars will be even more inconvenienced.
“It’s nice not to have to drive very far for groceries,” Altgelt said.
