JANESVILLE — Southside Janesville residents have been hoping for a new grocery on their side of town since the Pick ‘N Save closed in 2017.
Their wish may soon become a reality.
At the Oct. 28 city council meeting, the City of Janesville will be proposing the development of a 12,000-square-foot grocery store set to be located on the southside.
The city announced the proposal Wednesday.
Santa Maria Supermarket, LLC plans to place the family-owned business at 1820 Center Avenue and will provide access to fresh produce, a butcher, bakery, shelf-stable and frozen foods, and a small taqueria for patrons to enjoy.
The family also operates the Santa Maria Grocery on Midvale Boulevard in Madison.
The store will be just north of the future Kwik Trip coming to Center Avenue. For comparison, the Kwik Trip is expected to be about 9,200-square-feet.
To assist in the renovation costs associated with the new grocery store, the city is proposing a $50,000 grant be given from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) city funding.
“We are excited to partner with Santa Maria Supermarket to address a critical need on Janesville’s southside. We recognize that an opportunity to purchase fresh produce and family staples has been a resource that has been missed by our southside residents,” said City Manager Kevin Lahner.
Santa Maria Supermarket, LLC purchased and closed on the approximate 28,000 square-foot building on Sept. 20, 2024. While a little more than half of the building will have other businesses in
leased spaces, approximately 12,000 square feet will be renovated and dedicated to a grocery
store, according to the agenda for Monday’s council meeting.
The grant resolution will be presented to the council during the meeting on Monday, October 28, at 6 p.m. in City Hall.
For more information on the grocery store or grant resolution, visit https://bit.ly/4dUeXfT.
