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After much planning and discussion, Lund Food Holdings Inc. is moving forward with plans for a grocery store in downtown Minneapolis that include an outdoor patio, upper-level office space and a liquor store.

Lund spokesman Aaron Sorenson told Twin Cities Business that the grocer hopes to begin construction on the project this fall, with a grand opening slated for spring 2012 of the 20,000-square-foot supermarket and a liquor store.

Plans recently submitted to Minneapolis’ Heritage Preservation Commission show the proposed grocery store at Hennepin Avenue and 12th Street South, including some historic buildings. The supermarket would occupy about 9,000 square feet on the lower level of an existing three-story building, which would feature office space in the upper floors, plus a nearly 11,000-square-foot addition next to the existing building, TCB reported.

Sorenson told TCB the new store will feature deli, bakery, grocery, meat, seafood and sushi, plus a Bachman’s floral and gift store, and possibly a Caribou Coffee location. He added that the store would emphasize “high-quality grab-and-go items” and would “have the flavor and feel of the historic building” it’s housed in, including plaster columns, large windows and tall ceilings.

The plans further include a 5,600-square-foot liquor store on the other side of the block from the proposed supermarket. TCB reported it would occupy the ground floor of an existing building and feature leasable offices on the second level.

The development would also include a patio with outdoor seating and a “rain garden,” including grass, shrubbery and flowers. “We believe this is an effective way to handle rainwater on the site that is effective and aesthetically appealing,” Sorenson told TCB.

Over the past 10 years, Lunds bought up nearly the entire city block where the proposed development would be built. TCB reported that Minneapolis residents have expressed interest in a downtown grocery store for quite some time and named Lunds or Byerly’s stores as top picks.

The proposal will need to be approved by the city’s planning commission before construction can begin.

Lund Food Holdings currently owns and operates 10 Lunds and 11 Byerly’s supermarkets in the Twin Cities and surrounding area.

Source: Progressive Grocer