Construction on a 55,000-square-foot Winn-Dixie grocery store has begun on the western side of Louisiana Highway 21 in Covington.

The store will feature a new look for the grocery chain, with a rounded facade and color-coded departments within.

The new store officially got off the ground Wednesday as officials gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony. Community aspects and participation highlighted the morning.

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“ This is a great community business for us. It will not only help in our general economy but will fulfill the need for a grocery on the La. 21 corridor,” said St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis.

“As excited as residents of the area are, it’s nothing compared to the excitement we at Winn-Dixie feel with this store,” said Joey Medina, regional vice president of Winn-Dixie. “This will be the nicest store we have with plenty of hot food so you won’t have to cook and an expanded wine, organic and natural foods sections.”

Medina said when finished, the store will employ 200 people.

The store will be the seventh in St. Tammany Parish and the second in Covington.

It will bring the national total up to 521. Medina said that if the weather cooperates this summer, the store should be open for Thanksgiving.

He warned, however, that “summers in the area can sometimes be quite interesting,” referring to hurricane season.

The shopping center itself will operate 250,000 square feet of space.

“It’s more than bagging groceries. Twenty-four years ago I began as a bag boy, and now I’m a company vice president,” said Medina. He added that the chain is 83 years old and has operated in Louisiana since 1956.

“In addition, we donate over a million dollars a year to non-profits through the rewards card program. There are a lot of pastors and principals happy to see us come into the area,” said Medina.

He explained the Rewards Card is tied into a person’s favorite charity and based on sales, and the charity receives a check from the company each quarter.

Construction on businesses as well as the road itself have brought its own set of problems for residents and motorists on the La. 21 corridor, the bulk of which should be completed in the fall.