The vacant grocery facility in Mandeville’s Premier Centre will once again house an Albertsons, complete with a full-service pharmacy. Originally an Albertsons, the site has also housed an A & P Sav-A-Center, but has been vacant for over a year and a half.

The new 59,000 square-foot Albertsons will be more upscale than the previous Albertsons, said Donna Taylor, vice president of asset management and new business development for Stirling Properties.

Taylor said Albertsons will fill a void in the neighborhood and will bring a lot of traffic back to the area. Taylor said the grocery retailer has been committed to operating quality stores for over 40 years.

A new, more upscale Albertsons will return to its former location in the Premier Centre on U. S. Highway 190 in Mandeville. The property has been vacant for the past year and a half and the store will open this summer. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

“We are very, very happy that Albertsons is coming back. I think it’s great,” said Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price.

He said the city is pleased the entire center is completely occupied and they look forward to the new store. He said the store was previously a big producer of sales tax revenue.

Albertsons president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Division, William Emmons, said, “We’re excited to be opening a new full service food and drug store in southern Louisiana. We’ve excelled in the Louisiana market in creating a quality shopping experience for our customers.” He also said that they will be bringing about 100 jobs to the community.

“We feel the Mandeville location has great potential,” said Christine Wilcox, spokesperson for Albertsons. “We are excited to have the opportunity to introduce the area to new programs and products we have developed over the past three years.”

She said the pharmacy will be full-service with two pharmacists as well as pharmacy technicians. Hours of operation or whether the store will be open 24 hours a day has not yet been determined.

Retail and restaurants in the area include Stein Mart, Rack Room Shoes, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Hallmark, Bath & Body Works, Barnes & Nobles, Bed Bath & Beyond, Gap and Gap Kids, Banana Republic, American Eagle, Victoria’s Secret, Ann Taylor Loft, Motherhood Maternity, Earthsaver’s, La Madeline’s, Chili’s, Rosenblum’s and Aeropostale.

Located on U. S. Highway 190 east of Causeway Boulevard, the leasing of the property completes the Premier Centre’s available space, which is now 100 percent occupied. The store will open sometime this summer.