Clute: Kroger Marketplace opening on Dixie Dr. in spring 2016

​​CLUTE – As the year draws to a close, the city is seeing one of its biggest and most anticipated projects moving toward its final construction stage.

The Kroger Marketplace, under construction at Dixie Dr. and Oyster Creek Dr., is nearing completion as construction crews finish the exterior of the building and have begun work on its interior, officials said.

Construction cost is estimated at $8.6 million for the 120,000-sf marketplace, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation​.

The new Kroger Marketplace will replace the current 64,000-sf store at Dixie Dr. 

The new location not only will feature chef-prepared items, Texas-grown produce, a tortilleria, and fresh seafood and meat departments, but also clothes, shoes, furniture and a jewelry store.

Officials were expecting the store to be finished before the end of the year, but the date has been pushed back because of weather delays, said Joy Partain, Kroger public affairs coordinator for the Houston area.

Partain said “we are looking more at a spring opening.”

Partain said the transition of the old store closing to the new one opening will take place overnight.

As the new marketplace store approaches its completion date, Kroger officials still are looking to fill its staff, Partain said.

The grocery store is a joint effort with Cencor Realty, which is responsible for the retail stores to occupy the remaining 30,000 sf of the shopping center, said Clute City Manager Gary Beverly​.

Crews also are excavating the grounds surrounding the structure to make way for an additional 16,000-sf retail center that will be built on the east side of the 30-acre property.

Cencor has confirmed some retail stores will be moving in once the structure is finished, but have not released details.