In a statement, company officials said they are “adopting a new long-term growth strategy centered on building larger stores and putting more distance between future retail sites. As a result, the West Des Moines, Iowa-based retailer has elected to sell five parcels it had acquired over the past six years for smaller projects in the Twin Cities area. Those parcels are located in Farmington, Chaska, Blaine and West St. Paul as well as the company’s second site in Maple Grove.”
This news follows anticipation in the community for a higher-end grocery store option in Blaine, and comes more than a year after the long-delayed store finally opened in Spring Lake Park.
“It would have been great to see the project move forward and be successful,” said Blaine community development director Erik Thorvig.
The land is zoned for commerical development, and whoever buy the land will be able to present their own development ideas, but it could still be a grocery store. Blaine leaders said that Hy-Vee told them that Blaine is a strong market for a Hy-Vee store, and the grocer would still like to be there.
But, Thorvig says he’s also talking to many other grocery chains, including Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Kowalski’s.
“We’ve met with [Kowalski’s] several times, and we’re due to meet with them again in the springtime,” said Thorvig. “We know they’re interested.”
No timetable was given for the sale of the land, which is adjacent to a planned multi-level senior living community and a bank. City officials told North Metro TV News those plans would move forward, but the connection of 121st Avenue NE to the Main Street and Jefferson Street intersection–which city officials said Hy-Vee would be responsible for–will not happen since the store isn’t going to build on that site.
