REYNOLDSBURG, OH…As most of the state struggles to bring in new development in a down economy, the City of Reynoldsburg has managed to attract exactly what their community needs. Supermarket chain Giant Eagle has chosen the Home of the Tomato as its first Central Ohiolocation for their new value-focused grocery concept known as Valu King. Their motto – where value rules!

Set to open early summer 2010, the 32,000 square foot store will be located in the former Big Bear site at the corner of Brice Road and Livingston Ave., and is expected to provide up to 45 new full and part time jobs.

“This is an important project for the City of Reynoldsburg,” explains Reynoldsburg’s Mayor Brad McCloud. “Not only will it satisfy the needs of our community, but it will also jump-start the revitalization of the Southwestern area of our city.”

Since the closing of Big Bear in 2004, nearby residents have been clamoring for another neighborhood grocery store. Though numerous efforts have been made throughout the years, no small supermarket retailers have been interested in competing with the already established big box grocery chains, and the larger ones have already committed to other locations.

Red Raider Capital, LLC, a local real estate partnership, purchased the site in 2007, envisioning several retail options for the more than 100,000 square foot building. “From the time we purchased the site, we have continually received requests from the community to bring us a grocery store,” says Jeff Stavroff, Partner for Red Raider. “We are thrilled to be delivering a grocery store operator of the caliber of Valu King to our site and to the community. We look at this deal as a springboard in bringing additional users to the site that can serve the immediate neighborhood and community in the very near future.”