What’s the latest on the Arlington Kroger?
That’s a question frequently asked, and it's one where the answer remains unchanged.
In June 2016, local leaders with The Kroger Co. and the Town of Arlington gathered at the corner of Milton Wilson Boulevard and Airline Road for the ceremonial ground-breaking event to signify the start of the future 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace.
About a year later, Kroger announced that development was on hold via a statement that said:
“Nationally, The Kroger Co. has reduced new store developments. Those capital expenditures are now focused on the customer experience plus, digital and technology initiatives. We are optimistic about the future of our new Arlington Marketplace Store. However, at this time, the project has been delayed until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience. Kroger will continue operating its current store in Arlington, and we will provide updates to Arlington city officials regarding the progress of a future Marketplace Store.”
Fast forward to the present, and as of this week, things are still the same.
When asked for an update, on March 15 a Kroger representative told the Memphis Business Journal, “At this time, the store is still on hold until further notice.”
The first Kroger Marketplace model opened in Hernando in 2016. Unlike a traditional Kroger store, a Marketplace offers shoppers an expanded assortment of products from appliances to apparel and shoes. The Arlington Kroger Marketplace was scheduled to be the largest in West Tennessee. Kroger currently operates a 60,000-square-foot store in Arlington. According to MBJ research, The Kroger Co. employs nearly 7,000 local people ranking them the seventh largest Memphis area employer.
Local full-time employees
| Rank | Prior Rank | Rank / Prior rank / URL |
|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | FedEx Corp. |
2 | 2 | Tennessee State Government |
3 | 3 | United States Government |