Walnutport Giant work underway

Work on the Walnutport Giant food store is underway at the building located at 300 Best Ave.

The borough will consider Giant’s request for an intermunicipal transfer of liquor license.

Borough council will conduct a public hearing at 7 p.m. Nov. 8.

Giant intends to sell malt and/or brewed beverages for on-premises consumption in the dining area and “to-go” at the location.

Additionally, Giant plans to sell wine “to go” from this location.

Giant has its permits, and is in the building working, and eventually plans to have gas pumps outside the grocery store.

The store is expected to open at that location in 2019.

It will replace the former Pathmark store.

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 had 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.