Star Market Goes Big in Fenway

Star Market, a division of Albertsons Cos. that has been serving Boston-area customers since 1915, is planning a new, larger 50,000-square-foot store in the Fenway area.

The grocer currently operates a 28,900-square-foot store at 33 Kilmarnock St., which it said would stay open until the new store is complete “to ensure the community has uninterrupted access to essential groceries,” Star Market said in a release.

Star Market announced March 17 that it reached an agreement with Samuels & Associates and Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. to locate the new store in a proposed mixed-use development as part of the expansion at 401 Park. 

In addition to best-in-class produce, the new location will also offer a full-service meat department, fresh seafood sourced from New England, and thousands of natural and organic offerings, including products from its exclusive O Organics and Open Nature brands. Home delivery and Drive Up & Go services will be available to customers in the Fenway and Longwood Medical Area for added convenience.

“The Fenway community can look forward to a brand-new, technology-enabled, state-of-the-art store, and we look forward to partnering with Samuels & Associates to make the project a reality,” said Rob Backus, President of Shaw’s and Star Market.

Samuels & Associates and Alexandria are in the planning phase for a mixed-use building located adjacent to the 401 Park building abutting the MBTA D-line tracks and on the site of a retail building and loading docks. Project plans are expected to be filed in spring 2021.

“For many years, we have aspired to incorporate a new, full-service grocery store for the Fenway neighborhood,” said Peter Sougarides, a principal with Samuels & Associates. “We are delighted to partner with Star Market and create an opportunity for them to expand and evolve.”

Samuels & Associates has agreed to purchase the existing Star Market property located on Kilmarnock Street.  If approved, the new project is anticipated to open in 2024.