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Coborn's Superstore plan revived
Coborn’s will build a Superstore in Pipestone.
The grocery store chain’s latest plan was introduced at the Pipestone City Council meeting, Monday evening, Nov. 16, by Troy Hoekstra, vice president of real estate for Cornerstone Development.
The site plan reveals a 39,000 square foot Superstore with 270 parking spaces and a car wash and gas station at the corner of Seventh St. SE/Hwy. 30 and Hwy. 75 the current site of Sioux Valley Electric and Swanny’s.
“This is identical to the last one,” designed for Harmon Park, Hoekstra said.
Hoekstra told the council that the ink was only two hours dry on the final contract with Swanny’s, and that the Sioux Valley deal was signed last Thursday.
A closing date has been scheduled for Jan. 22, 2010. Hoekstra said outside the public meeting that the deal is contingent upon Sioux Valley moving into the old Bayliner facility.
Hoekstra said Coborn’s had been working with Swanny’s and Sioux Valley Electric for awhile, but the deal fell apart about a month prior to negotiations with the city for Harmon Park. Despite what people might think, Hoekstra said the deal only came together “coincidentally” and was not a back-up plan and was only salvaged after he made another attempt after, “as fate would have it, the park deal died.”
Keith Nettik, Coborn’s existing store manager, said the current store employees did not know about the new deal, but would be excited, as would Coborn’s customers.
“We had a lot of customers who were concerned who will be relieved that we’re not leaving town,” Nettik said.
Monday evening’s announcement came exactly one week after the city heeded strong public protest and decided not to sell Harmon Park land to Coborn’s for a Superstore.
Pipestone Mayor Laurie Ness said after the meeting she was surprised by Coborn’s plan, but pleasantly so.
“I’m pleased that a local business that’s been part of this community has decided to expand,” Ness said.
For more details on this story and to see a rendering of the site plan, see the Nov. 19 issue of the Pipestone County Star.
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