Kroger grocery store at the corner of East Glenn Avenue and North Dean Road is expanding, and in the process stores in its vicinity have been relocated.
The businesses that were required to relocate include New China, Great Clips and Check Into Cash.
New China and Great Clips relocated to a newly built portion of the Corner Village Shopping Center.
"It's actually a lot better, it's a lot more visible, but we're having a hard time with people who come into Kroger off of Dean Road and don't realize that we're right here," said Sheryl Eastridge, manager at Great Clips. "We put out sign, but you know the city doesn't like you having signs up. It's just hard for people to know that we're here. They think we just shut down which is kind of hurting us a little bit."
Eastridge said that so far her customers have loved the new location's layout and how open it is.
Jay Yang, general manager at New China, said that they've been closed down at the old location since Feb. 2. They are waiting until they pass inspections before they are able to open at the new location.
"We're happy we're moving to the new location because it's a newer store that we spent a lot of money to build," Yang said. "We've been (at the old location) since 1994, so it's good that we changed and it's sad."
Yang said he hopes that they will get new customers with their new location.
New China and Great Clips are now located at 819 E. Glenn Avenue and Check Into Cash relocated in the existing shopping center.
Mike Carter, property manager for the Corner Village Shopping Center, said that the tenants were OK with having to relocate. "We first contacted the tenants back in the summer and let them know what was happening," Carter said. "We had to build a new building, which is on the corner of the entrance to Kroger."
Renovations for the expansion of Kroger will cost $8.8 million dollars, and will be constructed by Vicky LLC, the owners of the Corner Village Shopping Center.
They are also adding trees to the parking lot and a brick facade, according to documents filed with Auburn City Council. The expansion will open up 85-100 jobs, according to Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger's Atlanta division, in a previous The Plainsman interview.
They plan to add a Starbucks, expand the grocery department, expand the bakery and deli, add new service meat and service seafood, add a Murray's Cheese and a sushi island and expand the natural foods department, Jenkins said.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
