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Giant Eagle Inc. continues to develop its Columbus Supermarket network.
The Pittsburgh-based grocer is leasing the former Big Bear supermarket at Continental Retail Development's Blacklick Crossing shopping center in Columbus near Reynoldsburg. When it opens in May, the 65,000-square-foot grocery at 6867 E. Broad St. will become Giant Eagle's 14th supermarket in the area and its first aimed at Reynoldsburg, Blacklick and Pataskala shoppers.
Giant Eagle also is planning a June opening of an 80,000-square-foot store at 650 N. State St. in Westerville. Continental Retail is building that supermarket.
When the two stores are finished, Giant Eagle will have tripled its Central Ohio stores in a year, but spokesman Robert Borella won't say whether a corresponding increase in sales has accompanied the expansion.
"Our sales have grown significantly," he said. "It's been particularly rewarding for employees who brought the Giant Eagle name to an area (Central Ohio) where it was unheard of before."
Syracuse, N.Y.-based Penn Traffic Co., the parent of the former Big Bear stores in Chapter 11 reorganization, relinquished...