Waite Park Officials Approve Kmart Building Renovations For Proposed Grocery Store, Dick’s Sporting Goods

WAITE PARK --  Continental Properties have been given the green light to begin renovating the former Kmart building.

During tonight’s (Monday) city council meeting, the council unanimously approved the height variance for the stores façade, which allows the developer to begin construction.

Developer Associate Joe Berkhahn says after Kmart's lease was up they "felt it was a better use of the space to renovate the building to fit multiple tenants as oppose to a big box store."

The Wisconsin based developer renovates large retail stories into multiple smaller stores across the United States.

Plans have the building being occupied by a 28,000 square foot grocery store chain, a 6,900 square foot retail center and what is believed to be a 52,000 square foot Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

The names of the three stores have not officially been announced. Berkhahn says they expect to have an official announcement of the occupants in September with construction slated for November.

Plans also have a fourth small retail store in the front parking lot, to be built at a later time.

If all goes well the stores will be open about a year after construction. The Kmart store closed back in December.