COLUMBUS, Ohio Giant Eagle on Thursday announced the opening of its first Ohio Market District food store — a 132,000-sq.-ft. upscale grocer — in the redeveloped Kingsdale Shopping Center in Upper Arlington.
The Kingsdale Market District, the fourth for the multiformat food retailer, also marks the region's first Ohio State University Medical Center FastCare retail health clinic, which will offer seasonal flu shots and screening events during the site's first few weeks. Set to begin providing all services on Nov. 9, the clinic will offer a convenient extension to primary care physicians and urgent care centers with integrated health records, and allow for diagnosis and treatment of many basic acute, episodic health conditions and minor injuries.
“The opening of the new Kingsdale Market District offers all of our best food ideas and discoveries in one place,” stated Giant Eagle’s senior EVP and chief strategy officer Laura Karet. “As a company, we are so excited to bring our customers the very best food experience imaginable — fresh, unique, delicious, colorful — all of the things someone thinks about when they taste something new and incredible."
"What I see in this new building is not just a set of walls," stated Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland during an opening presentation delivered Thursday morning. "I see new jobs for our people and a new day for Ohio. Market District is creating 400 jobs and transforming the Kingsdale shopping plaza in Upper Arlington," Strickland said. "That's an investment in central Ohio's future and a great example of the new opportunities that are rising up in Ohio today."
The Travel Channel’s Adam Richman kicked off the store's official grand opening with an in-store appearance. Others on hand to celebrate the grand opening on Thursday included "The Cheese Lady" Sarah Kaufman, Veggy Art founder James Parker and former Tennessee Titan runningback Eddie George. The festivities will continue over the weekend with appearances from season-four "Hell's Kitchen" winner Christina Machamer on Friday, and America's youngest four-star chef and judge on "MasterChef," Graham Elliot Bowles, on Saturday, Giant Eagle announced.