When Giant Food Stores opens a new location in Hills Plaza, the company will close its supermarket at 2222 E. College Ave., the grocery store chain announced on Wednesday.
“We are always looking to provide our customers with the best stores and this new store will greatly enhance the shopping experience,” Giant President Tom Lenkevich said in a statement. “In addition, this store location will provide more direct access to the surrounding residential neighborhoods and convenient parking.”
The store’s relocation from East College Avenue to South Atherton Street will leave Walmart as the only supermarket on the east side of the immediate State College area.
Giant also has a location in Northland Center on North Atherton Street, which will remain open.
The grocery store will take up residence in the long-vacant anchor spot in Hills Plaza at 2121 S. Atherton St. The space, last occupied by Ames before it closed in 2002, is 68,404 square feet, according to minor land development plans submitted to College Township earlier in September.
The remodeling of the storefront is expected to be completed in late 2018. The College Avenue location will close just prior to the grand opening of the new store.
In addition to converting the building for use as a grocery store, the plans for the Hills Plaza location also show that the former State College Diner will be demolished and the site paved. Utility and exterior lighting work also are included in the plans.
The 45-year-old Hills Plaza shopping center is owned by Vita & Vita Realty Corp. of Fairfield, N.J. It includes Hills Plaza, where the new Giant will be located, to the north of Rolling Ridge Drive; Short Hills Plaza (to the rear of Hills Plaza); and South Hills Plaza, to the south of Rolling Ridge Drive. The latter includes a grocery store in its anchor spot — the recently remodeled Weis Market.
