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.
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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 [email protected] or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.