Shoppers along South Broadway could soon choose between Albertsons, Sam’s Club and Natural Grocers when stocking up on groceries.

Natural Grocers plans to start construction in August on a new Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage at 368 South Broadway, said Mark McPherson, president of Equity Ventures Commercial Inc.

The developer submitted an application to the city for the new store in early June, McPherson said Monday.

Lakewood-based Natural Grocers has more than 90 stores throughout the U.S. The company has plans for a store in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood, at 38th Street and Brighton Boulevard. A five-story office and retail building is planned for Natural Grocers’ location at 15th and Platte streets.

The South Broadway store is technically being built near a food desert in Denver even though the area houses Albertsons and Sam’s Club in the Broadway marketplace.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers the neighborhood east of Interstate 25 a food desert because it’s a low-income area where a significant number of residents are more than one mile from a supermarket.

Natural Grocers’ new store would also be clustered near Sam’s and Albertsons, meaning the USDA’s designation of the area would likely not change.

Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at agarcia@denverite.com or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.