Exciting News for Athens as Food City Plans New Grocery Store Investment

Exciting News for Athens: Food City is Coming to Town!

Residents of Athens, get ready to roll out the welcome mat because change is coming your way! Food City, that popular grocery chain we all love, is planning to set up shop in your neck of the woods. It’s official – plans are in the works to build a brand-new store at the bustling intersection of Elm and Lucas Ferry Street.

What’s in Store: The Big Picture

With a hefty investment of $19.5 million, this new grocery store is projected to create approximately 200 jobs. Talk about a boost for the local economy! While the grand opening date hasn’t been announced yet, anticipation is already brewing in the community.

Mayor Ronnie Marks expressed excitement over this development, noting that the residents of west Athens have been clamoring for more commercial options. “This project presented us with the opportunity to address a need in that part of our city and grow our sales tax base,” said Marks. Isn’t it great to see local leaders listening to what the people want?

The Financial Upside

But wait, there’s more! The city estimates that this shiny new grocery store will bring in about $23 million in annual sales. That’s a serious injection of cash for Athens! Mayor Marks highlighted that more than 40 percent of the city budget comes from sales tax, so having a flourishing grocery store is a big deal. Growing that sales tax base means better services for everyone, from hiring more responders to purchasing new garbage trucks.

City Council Gets Involved

Let’s talk about the city’s support for this project. The city council has already approved an attractive $2.4 million incentive for Food City. Here’s how it works: Athens will collect the annual sales tax generated by the store and then pay back a percentage each year for ten years, until the county reaches that $2.4 million mark. This kind of arrangement helps both the city and the company flourish. It’s a win-win situation!

Road Improvement Plans

To top it off, there are also plans for road improvements in the store’s vicinity. This means that not only will you have a new grocery option, but it’ll be easy to access, too! It sounds like Athens is getting a real facelift, and who doesn’t love a shiny new store and improved roads?

Expanding Horizons: More stores on the way!

But Athens isn’t the only place where Food City is making its mark. The company is currently expanding throughout the region and has plans to construct a total of **six** stores in the Huntsville area. That’s a lot of new grocery options for folks in North Alabama! Food City already operates over 150 retail outlets in five states, including Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and now, Alabama.

The Future Looks Bright

Athens is poised for some exciting changes, and the arrival of Food City is just the beginning. With the potential for enhanced local services, job creation, and increased shopping options, residents can look forward to a vibrant future.

So, keep your eyes peeled for future updates on the grand opening and perhaps start daydreaming about which groceries you’re going to pick up first! This is just one more sign that Athens is growing and evolving, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.