Penhold is about to see a new addition as construction of a large strip mall plaza, which will include both a pharmacy and a supermarket, will soon be in the works.
The project, which has not been started, is valued at $5.5 million. Completion for the project is expected to be early next year.
The site will be located along Highway 2A in front of Hawkridge Estates and will include three separate buildings.
Penhold Family Foods grocery store will anchor the site as the central building in the strip mall.
The east side of the property will hold a pharmacy paired with a medical clinic and the west side is still vacant and up for commercial lease.
Pharmacist Steve Busse will manage the pharmacy in the mall and said he is certain this project will be of significant benefit to Penhold.
“This town has reached a size where it can now support some commercial businesses,” said Busse.
“This project should help growth of the town even so more now.”
The building that will house the pharmacy is expected to be about 4,000 square feet in size and will be shared with a medical clinic. There will also be about 2,000 square feet of space in the building, which Busse plans to lease for commercial use.
Busse currently co-owns a pharmacy in Sylvan Lake and has 12 years of experience with pharmacies.
He said he'll be able to manage the pharmacy in Sylvan Lake while running the new outlet in Penhold with the help of a business partner, who could not yet be named.
Tricia Willis, planning coordinator for the Town of Penhold, said the town is excited about the project.
“The main anchor to the three buildings will be the Family Foods grocery store, which many residents are excited for,” said Willis, adding that this will be the only grocery store in Penhold.
She said that although it's still unknown when construction for the development will start, the permits for the project are in and should be issued shortly.
