Giant in Walnutport could be open by mid-May

Shoppers and residents of the Northern Lehigh community could be but only a month or so away from walking the aisles of the new Giant Food Store in Walnutport.

Borough officials said at Thursday’s council meeting that the store at 300 Best Ave. is anticipated to be open by mid-May. Initially, the store was expected to be open by April.

In November, council approved a resolution to permit an intermunicipal transfer of liquor license that will enable the store to sell liquor.

The store intends to sell malt and/or brewed beverages for on-premises consumption in the dining area and “to-go,” and also plans to sell wine “to go” from this location.

It plans to have seating for up to 30 patrons at a time, as well as food options, and each customer can purchase up to two six-packs of beer and four bottles of wine in a single purchase.

The store has a policy at its beer-carrying stores that people drinking in the store must also purchase food.

Regular hours for beer sales will be 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sundays.

The Giant food store, which will replace the former Pathmark store, also plans to have gas pumps outside.

In July 2015, grocery store chain A&P, which also operates Pathmark and Super Fresh stores in the area, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and planned to close or sell off stores due to heightened competition. As part of that decision, 25 stores closed, including the one in Walnutport.

The building previously housed a Super Fresh supermarket, and before that, a Kmart.

A Giant food store has been located in Lehighton since 2001.

That store, located in the Carbon Plaza Mall, last year became Carbon County’s first supermarket to sell beer and wine.