By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó Big Lots and a grocery store will move into the former Winn Dixie on South Cannon Boulevard in Kannapolis.
And with that, Kannapolis has filled another empty big box store, City Planner Ben Warren said.
“This is an excellent opportunity,” Warren said. “It’s always a challenge to fill vacant big box retail space, especially in tight or tough economic times.”
The city recently lured Rug and Home to buy the old Target store in Cloverleaf Plaza. Previously, Harmony Labs bought the old Wal-mart on North Cannon Boulevard, and Artistic Frame purchased the old Terry Products building, a textile facility, in the center of the city.
Joe LaFave, general contractor for Big Lots, said he will divide the old Winn Dixie into two sections, half for Big Lots and half for a Save-a-Lot grocery store.
LaFave, who is based in Landis, said his contract with Big Lots is close to $1 million. He hopes to win the contract for Save-a-Lot as well but won’t know until next week.
City officials and LaFave said they don’t know if Big Lots is opening a new store or relocating its current store from North Cannon Boulevard.
Concord architect Barbara Walker is working on the project and said the new owner, Walpart Properties based in St. Louis, will renovate the building inside and out.
A 2,000-square-foot addition will hold more display space for Big Lots, LaFave said.
Demolition has begun. Crews will repair the floors and ceilings and bring electrical and mechanical systems back into working order, Walker said.
The building has been vacant for several years.
Each business will have an entrance, and exterior work like painting and landscaping will “improve the looks of the building tremendously,” Walker said.
Both stores should open in spring 2010, LaFave said.