“It’s big.”

 

That was the first thing that came out of the mouth of a young man who was among the few inside the new Kroger at the Eastpointe Plaza just over the Bridgeport city limit in Clarksburg.

 

The assessment was not incorrect. The Kroger in question, officially situated at 102 Emily Drive, cover 99,000 square feet. For now, it is the largest Kroger in West Virginia and it comes with an investment of more than $18 million.

 

For those wondering, the store it is replacing at the other end of the plaza and closing after today, covers roughly 57,000 square feet.

 

“This is almost double the size,” said Jacob Judd, the store manager, who has been with Kroger for 13 years and in the West Virginia Mid-Atlantic market for close two years.

 

Why the new store and the need for the square footage?

 

“We think this community deserves a facility like this. It was a matter of finding the proper space and being able to offer what we think the customer is looking for here with the expanded varieties and some of the things we brought in and set up.”

 

Although meeting customer’s needs is one thing, an investment pushing $20 million requires a corporation to believe that it will have a return on investment. Judd believes that will be the case.

 

“We have good indications from the existing store that there is potential growth here and we’re seeing other areas of the community expanding,” said Judd. “We think that the Clarksburg-Bridgeport area has more to offer in that sense and this investment provides the outlet for that growth. We want to be that number one retailer to provide the best shopping experience.”

 

To help with that experience, there are 258 full-time and part-time associates. Judd said the employment numbers are fluid and that “time will tell” if more employees are needed.

 

While part of the additional square footage involves spacious aisles – in fact, there are 39 aisles front to back and the total goes to 46 when adding additional ones running side to side – there are new features. Several store officials, including Judd, touted the Murray’s Cheese shop that will have an in-store “cheese master” that will offer samples, pairings, recipes and more with some of the 175 cheese offerings.

 

“No competitor offers this,” said Judd.

 

Adult beverages have expanded as well. Judd said the current store has two aisles, while the new location feature 1,600 square feet. The deli has also been expanded with additional food options, including prepared food and a sushi bar.

 

“There will be an adult beverage specialist on site to be able to engage with the customer,” said Judd.

 

The pickup section for those who prefer to have their shopping done on-line will be expanded, Judd said. The drive-thru pharmacy is also in place.

 

For those opting to shop in the store there will be 20 self-checkout lanes and seven regular checkout lanes. The Kroger fuel center will remain in its current location in near the Emily Drive entrance to the store set to be shuttered.

 

As part of the grand opening ceremony that will take place Wednesday, four nonprofits will receive $2,000 donations. The groups include The Jack Strong Foundation, the Genesis Youth Center, Harrison County CASA, and Stonerise Clarksburg.

 

Hours for the grand opening on Wednesday (Jan. 20) will be from 8 a.m. to midnight. The stores regular hours after that will be 6 a.m. to midnight with the possibility of hour changes if the pandemic situation changes.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows the exterior of the new Kroger, while the spacious aisles are shown in the second photo. In the third picture, the selection at Murray's Cheese Shop is shown. Below, Store Leader Jacob Judd is shown. Photos by Ben Queen of Ben Queen Photography. Check back tomorrow for a gallery of photos from a tour of the store.