When Kroger reopened its Range Line Road location on June 18, most customers expected the place to be newer and more upscale. But many might be surprised to discover the grocery store has implemented a completely new concept for the grocery chain.
The 1217 S. Range Line Rd. location – a first of its kind in Indiana – features a full-service test kitchen for cooking demonstrations. There’s a full-service Starbucks and a Cake Bake, a popular Broad Ripple bakery expanding into a second location. A two-story bistro section features areas to build your own pizza and order gourmet burgers. A quiet café area promotes the idea that you can not only pick up lunch at Kroger, but relax and enjoy your meal right in the store.
“Our $11 million investment in Carmel is a strong vote of confidence and allows us to continue providing quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer service, while being a supportive community partner,” said Jeff Burt, president of Kroger Central Division.
This is all part of an aggressive strategy to grow Kroger in Central Indiana, with $465 million in investment and 3,500 new jobs. The Carmel location alone will create 150 additional jobs.
John Elliott, manager of public affairs for Kroger, said the new Carmel location will be a test for features to include in other stores in the future.
The new Kroger still features the well-known brands and competitive prices of a major grocery store chain, but the gourmet items that used to be only found at stores such as Whole Foods are now available at Kroger. There’s a wine steward and a cheese master to help customers with pairings. There’s a grille station near the meat and seafood cases and even a chocolate fountain. The 86,419-square-foot store has 1,200 new items, a 60 percent increase.
