Ace Hardware, pet supply store planned for Otsego

Ace Hardware and a pet supply store are in the works for Otsego.

The Otsego City Council considered plans Monday for a 15,034-square-foot building that, according to city documents, is designed for those two tenants. The City Council voted 5-0 to approve the final plat as well as site and building plans for the project. A development contract related to the matter is expected to come before the City Council on Feb. 26.

The building is being proposed by Coborn Realty Company on a site at the northwest corner of Parrish Avenue and 88th Street, near Coborn’s.

Tom Bruce, of Rice Companies, spoke at the City Council meeting on behalf of Coborn Realty Company and said they are planning on a June opening.

Meanwhile, the Otsego Coborn’s is undergoing an expansion.

An 8,068-square-foot addition is being built onto the south side of the grocery store at 15700 88th St. NE. The original store is 42,460 square feet in size.

Coborn’s said in a statement that plans include an expanded grocery store with a larger assortment of products and wider aisles and an expanded liquor store to offer shoppers a larger selection.

The pharmacy has also closed, merging with neighboring Coborn’s pharmacies in Albertville, Big Lake, Elk River and Ramsey to accommodate the remodel.

The Otsego City Council had voted unanimously Jan. 22 to approve a conditional use permit amendment and site and building plans for the Coborn’s expansion.

Coborn’s said in its statement that the store is remaining open during construction, which is expected to continue through spring. A public grand reopening celebration will be planned for early summer.

St. Cloud-based Coborn’s, Inc. is a 102-year-old employee-owned grocery retailer with nearly 10,000 employees and 77 grocery stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s, Tadych’s Marketplace Foods and Sullivan’s Foods banners. Coborn’s, Inc. also operates fuel, liquor and pharmacy locations.