October 3, 2023 – released by the City of Anderson
Mayor Broderick Hosts Grocery and Hardware “Wall Breaking” Needler’s and Ace Hardware Construction Starts on Anderson’s West Side.
ANDERSON, IN – Mayor Thomas Broderick, Jr. announced construction of Anderson’s new Needler’s Fresh Market and Benge’s Ace Hardware officially kicked off with a “Wall Breaking” Ceremony at 2810 Nichol Ave on October 3. The renovation of the former Marsh store follows immediately.
Representatives of Indianapolis developer KennMar, Needler’s Fresh Market, Benge’s Ace Hardware, Anderson ARC, and community members joined Mayor Broderick and City of Anderson staff at the event that welcomed the two new retailers to Anderson’s west side.
Since the bankruptcy of Marsh, the city has been working to secure a quality replacement for the lost business. Mayor Broderick and Anderson Economic Development Director Greg Winkler remained committed to their clear vision to secure an established, full-service grocery store, providing a much needed service for west side Anderson residents.
Mayor Broderick commented, “I am very pleased to see construction start on the new Needler’s and Ace Hardware stores. KennMar put together a great package, addressing every requirement we established. We wanted a solid store for our community that will serve as a great anchor for future redevelopment on the west side corridor while addressing the immediate needs of our residents.”
KennMar will invest up to $1.5 million in the project. KennMar purchased the property for $500,000. The store operators will be responsible for the costs of operations, employee costs and taxes. The ARC will provide incentive financing up to $7.2 million net to be released in phases. These funds will be recaptured from tax revenues realized from additional taxes on the improvements.
“This is KennMar’s first project in Anderson and we are proud of the partnership we have built with the City and of the opportunity to work alongside Michael Needler to help revitalize the westside corridor,” said Brent Benge, President & CEO of KennMar. “This project is also the perfect example of how we strive to develop spaces that will make a positive impact for residents and bring retailers like Needler’s and Ace together to serve the needs of the community.”
Developer, KennMar, has over 100 years of combined real estate experience, with over 20 million square feet of property being managed by their executive team and over $8 billion dollars’ worth of capital collectively financed and raised.
Needler’s Fresh Market is owned by Generative Growth II. The company’s owners, Michael S. Needler, Jr. and Julie N. Anderson, have purchased 15 former Marsh Supermarkets locations in June 2017 and has rebranded 14 of them to Needler’s Fresh Market.
Economic Director Winkler stated, “This is an exciting day for Anderson. Needler’s is a grocery chain with proven success. Anderson’s west side residents will have a great resource, particularly for those with mobility and transportation issues. ”
A grand opening event will be announced upon completion of construction.
