Groundwork has been underway for weeks, but Kroger leaders held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday for a $35 million, 100,000-square-foot Marketplace store. A company official said all three existing Kroger locations in Owensboro will remain open.
The new store is expected to open in late 2026 and will feature a fuel center, drive-thru pharmacy, Wine & Spirits Shoppe, Murray’s Cheese, sushi bar, Starbucks, expanded bakery, and fresh departments, as well as home goods, pet supplies, and apparel. It is expected to employ about 200 associates.
The Marketplace store will be located at 3914 Fairview Drive. The store will be located on the east side of the intersection of Fairview and Hayden Road, diagonally across from the site where Publix is building a location.
“Today we celebrate a $35 million investment in this community that will bring fresh food, good jobs, and a one-stop shopping experience for local families,” said Jessica Sharp, Head of Communications and Public Affairs for Kroger’s Louisville Division.
Sharp said the decision to add a Marketplace in addition to the three Kroger stores already in Owensboro was driven by the company’s ongoing investment strategy in growing communities.
“We continue to evaluate the economic development and the growth of communities as we think about investments like this. So as we continue to see the population growth, that’s usually the determining factor,” she said.
Asked if the three existing stores would remain open, Sharp said they would.
Mayor Pro Tem Bob Glenn called the project “an exciting day for our community and for our region.”
“Kroger is such a great corporate partner,” he said. “They are an amazing statewide and region-wide corporate supporter. They’re a good corporate citizen. They provide their employees with good jobs. I am a big supporter of unions. I’m thrilled that they have a union presence at all of their stores.”
Larry Warren, District 3 Manager for Kroger, said the Marketplace will be the company’s largest footprint locally.
“From my vantage point, it’s been a long day coming,” he said. “But it’s just not about the four walls that’s going up here. It’s also about the people, the associates that work for us who are willing to come into a bigger footprint store and run it for us. This community has been great to Kroger for decades, and I think this underscores the commitment Kroger has to our communities with a $35 million investment.”
Anthea Jones, Vice President of Merchandising, said the store represents the best of what Kroger has to offer.
“Customers will find fresh local food alongside home essentials, all with quality products and the value that you expect,” he said. “Our goal is simple: to make life easier for Owensboro families. Behind every great store is a strong operation, and we are committed to making this Marketplace run safely, efficiently, and with excellence. We’re proud to be building a store where associates can grow their careers and customers can count on us for full, fresh, and great food.”
Construction crews have already been working on the site, with foundation work already filled out. Sharp said walls will begin going up soon, with a target completion date of fall or winter 2026.
