
CENTRALIA – Long awaited by local residents, grocery giant WinCo is working with the Port of Centralia on the purchase and sale of property to build a new store in Centralia.
Specifying the exact 9.9 acres where the store will be built was key to moving the WinCo and Centralia Station project forward. Port Executive Director Kyle Heaton says, “One of the things holding up Centralia Station is without being able to identify succinctly their (WinCo) right of way, we are unable to identify other property lines and perform other (property) transactions.” Heaton discussed the latest agreement with WinCo with the Port commission Wednesday afternoon.
Now the company will apply for the necessary permits to begin construction. WinCo expects about 120 new construction jobs and that many and more to be employed once the store opens.
Commission chair Kyle Markstrom said, “There have been a lot of hurdles we’ve had to overcome. The partners in this, the City of Centralia, WinCo, and I appreciate the communities’ patience in this.” Commissioner Markstrom says WinCo is seen as the anchor tenant in what has been called Centralia Station, a business development planned for an area southeast of the Mellen Street exit off I-5.
In addition to the WinCo development, the Port announced Wednesday new and expanded development of three Port businesses, Ferguson-Schmidt, Lindon Camonsa and Plastic Services which plans to add 50,000 square feet to its Centralia operations.