Kroger Grocery Chain Purchases 4 Acres In Bradenton: Report

BRADENTON, FL — Kroger Co. closed on the purchase of a just-under 4-acre parcel in Bradenton Dec. 22, Tampa Bay Business Journal reported.

The Cincinnati-based grocery chain paid $5.15 million for the vacant land at 7415 Manatee Ave. West. The property had previously been earmarked for Lucky’s Market, a specialty grocer financially backed by Kroger, reports said.

An Albertsons previously called the property home. It was demolished to make room for Lucky's, reports said.

Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the country, initially invested in Lucky’s in 2016, then backed away from the deal in 2019. As a result, Lucky’s filed for bankruptcy, closed the majority of its stores and ceased plans for expansion. Lucky's demise left behind a lot of empty real estate.

In May, Balboa Retail Partners, the Los Angeles-based developer of the planned Bradenton Lucky’s Market filed a lawsuit against Kroger in Manatee County, reports said. The developer sought damages because Kroger had guaranteed the lease for Lucky’s. Kroger has been sued by other developers in Florida for failed Lucky’s developments.

A Kroger spokesperson wouldn’t respond to the TBBJ’s questions about how the chain came to own the property or its plans for it.

Kroger has partnered with U.K-based online grocery retailer Ocado to build an automated fulfillment center for online orders in Orlando, according to Retail Leader. The project is still under construction.

It only operates one regular grocery store in the Sunshine State, a Harris Teeter in Fernandina Beach. This came about after Kroger acquired Harris Teeter in 2014, reports said.