Land owned by Meijer in Fayette County finally being developed — but not into a Meijer

A new grocery store will soon be coming to an area of Lexington that has long needed more retail and commercial development, but developers said they can’t yet name the retailer.

On Thursday, the Urban County Planning Commission gave final approval on a development plan for a more than 47,000 square foot store at the corner of Georgetown Street and Citation Avenue. In addition to the store, the plans show an additional 22,750 square feet of attached retail and office space.

The primary entrance will be on Citation through a yet-to-be-installed traffic signal. There will be left turn only and right turn only entrances from Georgetown Street onto Remington Way. Fuqua Development of Atlanta, the developer, has agreed to do all the of those traffic upgrades, including installing turn lanes on Citation and Georgetown and new traffic medians.

Jeff Fuqua, of Fuqua Development, said the grocery store has not given Fuqua the OK to release its name.

The property has been owned by Meijer, a Michigan-based grocer, for decades. However, development officials said this new project is not a Meijer.

Fuqua said the tenant will likely be announced in the first three months of 2023.

“I can’t disclose the tenant at this point,” Fuqua said. “It is going to be great for the area.”

In addition, the property has 12 other smaller lots along the perimeter.

Fuqua said they are discussions with various restaurants and retail shops about locating there. The group is not ready to announce those retail stores and restaurants.

In addition to traffic improvements, the plans also call for installing a bus stop on Georgetown Street.

The area between Leestown Road and Georgetown Street has seen tremendous growth in residential development over the past two decades. However, residents have long complained about the lack of groceries, shops and restaurants in the area.

Fuqua said they will likely start construction in the spring of 2023. The building should hopefully be completed in spring or summer of 2024.

Fuqua Development specializes in mixed-use development. It has developed more than 20 million square feet in over 20 different projects across the Southeast , according to its website. Some of its projects include The Braves Battery Atlanta at Truist Park, a mixed-use development surrounding the Atlanta Braves stadium.