Ingles plans major expansion

Ingles in Hull plans to tear down the vacant building that housed its original grocery store in Madison County and build a 104,850-square-foot facility. The current Ingles is 69,969 square feet.

Ted Sandler, a real estate attorney representing Ingles with the law firm of Hartman, Simons and Wood LLP, said Aug. 10 that the company is still working on permitting for the project. However, he said Ingles hopes to start construction in September and have the new store open by June.

“We’re working to expedite getting the new store under construction,” said Sandler. “If we don’t start construction in September, we won’t make a June opening.”

Ingles has 210 stores in the southeastern United States. The new one planned in Hull will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest Ingles store.
“That’s the biggest I know of,” said Sandler of the planned store in Hull.

Sandler said a larger store means more aisle space and more frozen food selections.

“This is a good location for the company,” he said. “And this (the upgrade) is a community service. As Ingles comes out with new store prototypes, the community is served by all the modern amenities.”

Sandler said the company doesn’t plan to close the current store during construction.

“They’re going to try to keep it open as they work on the new store,” he said.

The current Ingles will be turned into a mini mall, with a projected four spaces available for retail businesses. Who will fill those spaces has yet to be determined.

“They (Ingles) haven’t started with any leasing,” said Sandler.

The architectural firm of Robertson Loia and Roof of Alpharetta submitted the new store site plan to the county zoning office July 29. Zoning administrator Linda Fortson said the plans have already been approved. A building plan for the facility should be submitted any day. Leslie Contracting, Inc. out of Fayetteville has been hired to construct the new store.

Meanwhile, the grocery store has already started work on a sewer line and lift station that will connect to the new Madison County sewer system in Hull.

Sandler said the company has been waiting on Madison County to complete its sewer system before it proceeded with the expansion plans.
County commission chairman Anthony Dove said the new store will benefit Madison County.

“That’s one of our biggest contributors to our sales tax,” said Dove. “A lot of people coming from Athens stop there. It’s an asset to the county.”

Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority Executive Director Marvin White noted that the Ingles upgrade is expected to add another 15 jobs at the store. He also said Ingles brings in an estimated 12 percent of Madison County’s sales taxes.

“I’ve been told its about 12 percent, but I’ve also been told it’s more than that,” he said.

White said the new store will be great thing for Madison County.

“There will be more jobs and there should be an increase in sales taxes,” he said. “… People look for convenience and this provides that.”