EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Over a year after the Buehler’s IGA closed in Jacobsville, a new grocery store could be taking over.
“This is a mixed use development, it’s more than just apartments, more than just living. 15,000 square feet dedicated to commercial space,” said Evansville’s Mayor Lloyd Winnecke.
The solution is lofts on North Main, which comes with a 28.5 million dollar price tag. The apartment complex will stretch from North Main to Baker Avenue and is expected to include a grocery store on the bottom floor.
“It’s a food desert, it’s needed, both in Jacobsville and Downtown Evansville. The pitch is we’re adding a 180 customers right above. The residential units are coming to Downtown Evansville, so the pitch is to try to get the grocery to jump in before they’re actually built where typically they like to wait until it’s done,” said Matt Gadus, Home Investments Director of Development.
Developers say the old IGA and metal shop that still sit on the lot will have to be torn down to pave way for the new structures.
“We’ve just seen growth throughout it, we’ve seen people excited about the street and how beautiful it is,” said Gayla Bell, Owner of Gayla Cakes.
Bell says recent community improvements have helped drive more people into her shop.
“On north main, the business association we’ve been meeting and making plans and we’ve got events coming up and so we’re just really excited about new people in the community and a new grocery store and new retail,” said Bell.
There will be studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments available for lease. Developers say they plan on closing on the ground in December and starting construction in the spring. If the grocery store does not take up the entire 15,000 square feet allotted for it in the design plans, the remaining space will be available for lease to other commercial retailers.
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(This story was originally published on July 5, 2019)
