Kroger plans multimillion-dollar expansion at 116th and Cumberland

Kroger Co. is planning a multimillion-dollar expansion at its store near 116th Street and Cumberland Road in Fishers.

Spokesman John Elliott said the details of exactly what would be renovated inside the store are still unknown, but an additional 18,000 square feet would be added to bring the facility to 82,000 square feet total.

It would not be as expansive as the 120,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace planned for 116th Street and Olio Road in Fishers, intended to replace the existing store near that location.

The Cincinnati-based grocery chain announced in April that it would invest $465 million in central Indiana with new stores of various sizes, as well as expansions and remodels. The 116th Street and Cumberland Road store was not among the list of projects announced at that time, Elliott said.

He said typically any store remodel or expansion includes adding a fuel center, a drive-thru pharmacy, more prepared foods and additional natural food selections.

“What the plans look like for this store, we don’t know yet,” Elliott said, mentioning the exact project cost is also unknown but likely would be several millions.

Documents filed with the city show the expansion being on the east side of the existing building and relocating the pharmacy drive-thru to the front of the structure. It also outlines plans for a future Kroger gas station on undeveloped land northwest of the store.

Elliott said the company usually evaluates what has worked and hasn’t worked in recently upgraded stores when discussing future projects, so store officials will likely watch how customers respond to the Carmel location on Rangeline Road.

The $10.8 million renovation at the Carmel store included adding a wider range of organic and natural foods, cafe bistro with indoor and outdoor seating, expanded alcohol section, Starbucks outlet and increased offerings in the meat, bakery and produce departments. 

"Some components of that store would work in Fishers, but some would not,” Elliott said.

Elliott said it will be several months before the project is finalized.