Kroger’s pricetag for old Fred Meyer building in Palmer drops to around $2 million

PALMER — When Fred Meyer opened the doors of its new building March 4, Palmer patrons were left with feelings of excitement for the new shopping opportunities, but also wonder over what would happen to the old store.

That question remains unanswered, as the old location of the Kroger-owned grocery store is still for sale. The price tag has dropped to a number in the neighborhood of $2 million.

The new store, located at the site of the original Carrs building at 650 N Cobb Street in downtown Palmer, is nearly twice the size of the original building across the Glenn Highway, when, in 2003, the company originally purchased the property that previously was owned by First Baptist Church.

The new store is 137,000 square feet, where the old building was only 70,000. The store employs 250 people, whereas the old location employed 178.

"We got a real anchor for downtown Palmer, which highly benefited all the other businesses,” said Palmer City Council member Brad Hanson, who was instrumental in bringing the chain into town. “It really started the redevelopment of downtown. It was a win-win.”

Speculation in the community began to arise almost immediately about the opportunity for another business to utilize the vacant building. Rumors swirled, but, so far, they’re just rumors.

"The benefit is the residents have a place to shop they don't have to travel outside the area to get," said Hanson of the benefits of the new store. "There will be a spinoff in that the additional sales tax revenue. We shipped our tax dollars to another community now we get the benefit of retaining those monies for things that we think are important.”

Vacating the shelves of the old building continues in preparation for a new dweller.

Tim Rockey is a freelance reporter for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Contact him at timothy.rockey@gmail.com.