Updated 10:41 a.m.

WinCo plans to open its newest Portland store - and the closest yet to the city's downtown - at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 26.

The store will open in the former Food 4 Less location near Southeast 82nd and Powell, which sat empty for about three years.

WinCo spokesman David Butler, who confirmed the opening date in a Thursday email to The Oregonian, said the store will employ 110-120 people. According to its website, WinCo is now hiring employees for the store.

The store is the grocer's first west of 82nd Avenue on Portland's east side. Grocers in the surrounding area include Fubonn, an Asian grocery store, and a Walmart supercenter.

When the new location was announced last fall, former WinCo spokesman Michael Read said the company targeted the area because it was under-served.

WinCo Foods, an employee-owned company based in Boise, Idaho, is known for its low prices. In an un-scientific survey conducted by The Oregonian of prices on seven staple items at area grocery stores last year, WinCo's prices came in lowest by far.

At about 55,000 square feet, the new store is smaller than other WinCo stores, which typically range from 75,000-100,000 square feet. All WinCo stores are open 24 hours a day.

According to its Butler, WinCo operates 106 stores and five distribution centers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona and Texas.

It also opened a store in Grants Pass in January.

-- Anna Marum

amarum@oregonian.com

503-294-5911

@annamarum