FARGO – A Natural Grocers is coming to Fargo.

Natural Grocers, a Denver-based specialty retailer that focuses on natural and organic food, is looking to set up a store at 4517 13th Ave. S., according to building permit information filed with the city.

The location was home to an Office Depot until that store closed last fall.

Natural Grocers said an opening date for its Fargo store has not been set.

Founded in 1955, Natural Grocers has 94 stores in 16 states. The company employs more than 2,000 people.

The Fargo store will be the first Natural Grocers location in North Dakota.

The store will feature a mix of national brands and locally grown and manufactured products, according to a statement released by the company.

Natural Grocers expects to bring 25 new jobs to Fargo and is hiring for all positions.

Anyone interested in applying may visit the company’s website.

Interviews will take place from March 30 through April 3 in Fargo.

The Fargo location is one of 18 Natural Grocers expected to open in fiscal year 2015, the company said.

The Fargo store will be a retrofit of an existing space, but if it had been a new building it would have been made of sustainable, nontoxic construction materials.

That’s according to the company website, which states that all of the company’s new buildings are constructed using plant-based materials, recycled materials and materials that are nontoxic, “creating a healthier, irritant-free shopping and learning environment for our customers and employees.”

Kaye Kirsch, spokeswoman for the Prairie Roots Food Cooperative, an area group that is looking to open its own retail store of organic and locally grown food, said Prairie Roots would have loved to have been the first to open such a store in the area.

But Kirsch, who is the co-op’s membership and development director, said because of the growing popularity of organics “there’s certainly enough room in the market for all of us.”

Kirsch said the co-op with its 782 members is scouting for possible store locations.

She said they have a goal of opening a store somewhere in the Fargo-Moorhead area within a year.