The public is invited to the official groundbreaking on Wednesday morning for the Kroger Marketplace grocery store in Statesboro at the intersection of the Bypass and Cypress Lake Road. According to a release from Kroger, the ceremony will get underway at 9 a.m.

Kroger actually began earth-moving and construction in August on the $45.7 million, 99,000-square-foot Marketplace that will anchor a 21-acre shopping center. It is expected to open to the public in fall 2027. The center also will have four outparcels and 10,850 square feet of additional retail space.

“While we have already begun construction on the new store, we are very excited to officially celebrate this next step with the Statesboro community,” Monica Garnes, president of Kroger’s Atlanta Division, said in the release from Kroger. “At Kroger, our purpose is simple but powerful: to Feed the Human Spirit. Every day, we bring that purpose to life by creating a place our customers love to shop.”

The store will feature a bakery, deli, meat and fresh produce departments, along with Murray’s Cheese, freshly prepared sushi, household, baby, toy and pet departments, an expanded health and beauty selection, a full-service pharmacy with drive-thru service and an adjacent fuel center.

“Investing in Statesboro and Bulloch County means investing in the well-being of our neighbors across the region,” Garnes said. “Through our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, we’re committed to working with local partners to help more families access nutritious food and keep good food from going to waste.”