By Sara Beth Williams–
A rumored Amazon Fresh grocery store coming to the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue has been confirmed through an official alcoholic beverage license filed on May 28.
The new grocer is slated to open at 5425 Sunrise Blvd., according to leasing documents online, but no official name has been listed. A notice of the filing of an alcoholic beverage license was posted next to the entrance of the building with the official company name.
Several sources with knowledge of the project last year informed The Sentinel that Amazon Fresh was slated to become the tenant for the space. Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter could not confirm the name of the new tenant as of Monday.
Interior renovations reportedly began inside the building between six and eight weeks ago. Construction fencing has been erected by W.L. Butler Construction Inc. in the parking lot in front of the site, and interior construction is ongoing.
The 38,000-square-foot building was formerly occupied by JoAnn’s Fabrics, according to prior reports. JoAnn’s Fabrics moved over to an adjacent building in the same shopping center.
Rite Aid, which recently closed, was located two buildings down and is still listed on online leasing documents.
After filing for bankruptcy in mid-October 2023, the chain initially announced the closure of more than 150 stores across 15 states. More closures occurred in November 2023 and January 2024, according to online reports. Previous Rite Aid locations in Citrus Heights had already shuttered in 2018 and 2023.
Related: End of an Era: The last Rite Aid in Citrus Heights has shuttered – Citrus Heights Sentinel
According to the city, building permits were issued to 5425 Sunrise Blvd. on May 2.
Amazon is known for being silent about plans for its grocery concept stores to open in other parts of the country. An Ohio-based news outlet reported Amazon being mum about plans for a new grocery store in Cleveland and said the company is known for using a generic “National Grocer” name for its projects elsewhere.
Redevelopment of the Sunrise Village shopping center has been ongoing since the first quarter of 2021, according to prior reports. A new archway sign was erected in 2023, and several new businesses have joined the shopping center. Recently, Pinkberry, a national frozen yogurt chain, was added to the leasing materials for Sunrise Village.
Related: New eatery coming to renovated Citrus Heights shopping plaza – Citrus Heights Sentinel
The shopping center currently includes several prominent businesses and eateries, such as See’s Candies, Olive Garden, Starbucks, Little Ceasar’s, JoAnn’s Fabrics and Crafts, and The Habit Burger Grill.
W.L. Butler Construction could not be reached by Sentinel staff before press time on Tuesday.
