– Bill Rautenstrauch

The Observer

ISLAND CITY The Grocery Outlet on Island Avenue broke ground last week for its new building, kicking off a construction project that will eventually include four new retail spaces.

Randy Willson, owner of the bargain-brand store, said Thursday his new building, going up on a lot behind the current store on Island Avenue near Walton Road, will be complete late this fall, probably around Thanksgiving.

"We plan a contest where our customers can guess the date. Whoever guesses closest wins. Even I don’t know the exact date yet," he said.

Willson said the new Grocery Outlet will include a "piggyback" retail space for another business.

Also slated for construction on the property are 5,000-square foot and 3,000-square foot commercial buildings to the south and east.

The Island City Grocery Outlet opened in its current location at the corner of Walton Road and Island Avenue 25 years ago. The building formerly housed Courtright Irrigation.

Though the Island City store is locally owned and operated, it is part of a chain of 129 stores in six western states.

It carries refrigerated and frozen foods, fresh produce, dry groceries, beer and wine, health and beauty products and more.

Willson, who lives in La Grande with his wife, Michelle, and children Lindsey, Ryan, Tanner and Cameron, started at the store as a bagger and eventually bought the business.

Today, he oversees a staff of 16, including department heads, cashiers, stockers and baggers.

He said there will be enough room in the new, 22,000-square foot building to add several departments including fresh-cut meat, gourmet and specialty cheeses, and organic products.

The Grocery Outlet’s labor force will increase accordingly, he said.

"How many new people we hire will depend on our volume," he said. "I hope to add at least eight more, and of course, we’ll be hiring a lot of temporary help to re-set the store."

Stanley and Associates, identified by Grocery Outlets as a Northwest contractor, is the general contractor.

Project Superintendent Chuck Bryant said he believes 80-90 workers, many of them with local companies, will eventually contribute to the development.

The property is being developed by Reed Investments, a firm associated with Grocery Outlets, Inc.

Tenants for the other stores on the parcel have yet to be named.

The Island City Grocery Outlet is situated near Wal-Mart, which added a grocery department when it expanded its store last year.

Even though the competition has intensified, Willson said he likes his location because Wal-Mart brings shoppers to the area.

"Every day there’s 2,000 cars parked in that lot. What more can you ask for?" he said.