Giant Eagle going into Allegheny Towne Center, to close Hyde Park facility

Giant Eagle Inc. plans to build a new, state-of-the art supermarket in Westmoreland County that is expected to open by early spring next year.

The corporate-owned store will be in Allegheny Towne Center, Allegheny Township, and is expected to employ about 200 full- and part-time workers. Site preparation is under way, and construction is expected to begin next month.

Officials of the Pittsburgh-based supermarket chain said the new outlet will replace the existing store at 451 Hyde Park Road, a 50,000-square-foot supermarket built in 1981.

The Hyde Park Road store employs about 160 workers, and all will be offered jobs at the new store, according to Giant Eagle.

The stores are about one mile apart from each other.

The new supermarket will include Giant Eagle features such as the Farmers Market produce section, a pharmacy, video rental store, Eagle's Nest child care center, Baby Shop boutique, Java Sonata Cafe, a dry cleaner, an organic foods section and prepared foods counter. Parking will also be expanded to improve access.

'This world-class design creates an entire marketplace within the building, offering an environment that is contemporary, open, customer-friendly and full of product. We believe this shopping experience represents the best of what is happening in the food industry in America today,' said Laura Karet, senior vice president of marketing for Giant Eagle, in a statement.

Karet said Giant Eagle owns the property on Hyde Park Road and the company is reviewing options for its future use.

Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle operates 115 corporate and 87 independently owned and operated stores throughout western Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio and north central West Virginia.