Giant Eagle Eyeing Property Across the Street?

is eyeing its former location across the street on Detroit Avenue for a Market District prototype store.

That’s according to city officials, who said there have been some “preliminary discussions” between the Pittsburgh-based grocer and the city about the future of the company in Lakewood. 

Giant Eagle sold the property at 14013 Detroit Avenue to Urban Active in 2007. However, plans at the site to build a workout facility never came to fruition.

The building has been vacant since 2007, when Giant Eagle finished its move across the street to 14100 Detroit Avenue.

According to city officials, the company is looking to make renovations to the existing store and build a new, “prototype” store — not unlike .

“All of this is in the preliminary stage,” said Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development, adding that discussions with Giant Eagle officials revealed that the grocer would like to build a new structure on the corner of Bunts Road and Detroit Avenue.

Then, renovation would begin on the existing store.

Company officials aren’t saying much.

“We have nothing to share about the Lakewood store,” said Giant Eagle spokeswoman Paula DePasquale.

The company unveiled plans in Strongsville to build a Market District store — an upscale, 110,000-square-foot grocery store that includes a restaurant, pharmacy and a vast array of prepared foods.

As well as a new Get Go gas station.

"This is going to be incredible," Jim Chickini, a Giant Eagle vice president, told Strongsville officials Tuesday afternoon. "These (stores) are special. There will only be a handful of these."

There is currently only one Market District in Ohio — in Upper Arlington, an affluent community near Columbus — and five in the nation. The other four are in Pittsburgh.

“It would be a great building, like any new development in town,” said Siley. “The bigger story here is that Giant Eagle is looking to invest in that grocery store. Having a good grocery store isn’t just an amenity, it’s essential.”

Debbie Palmer contributed to this story.