PORTSMOUTH — Whole Foods Market is coming to the city, at the former Shaw’s 1600 Woodbury Ave. site, the Denver-based Black Creek Group announced Wednesday.

The announcement ends several months of speculation since local lawyer Chris Mulligan said in December a "highly anticipated national retail grocery chain" was coming to Portsmouth and "everyone’s going to love it."

"We’re excited to expand our presence in New Hampshire and bring Whole Foods Market to Durgin Square," said Rick Bonin, president of Whole Foods Market’s North Atlantic Region, in a press statement. "We look forward to becoming part of the vibrant Portsmouth community and providing customers with access to delicious food and great products that all meet Whole Foods Market’s unparalleled quality standards."

Mike Moran, Black Creek Group’s vice president, retail acquisitions and asset management, added, "Whole Foods Market opening its third New Hampshire location is an exciting addition to the community and we are happy to partner with the retailer as it’s known for highquality products, exceptional customer service and innovation within the industry. Additionally, the completion of this lease not only shows the demand for welllocated retail, but it fits within Black Creek’s strategy of providing neighborhoods with access to highquality tenants that serve their needs."

Following the completion of the Whole Foods lease, the retail center has approximately 9,000 square feet of available space. Black Creek said it’s "actively marketing the space to other highquality retailers that will drive additional customer traffic."

Portsmouth attorney John Bosen represented the group Tuesday before the city’s Technical Advisory Committee and was granted amended site plan approval, "to upgrade the existing shopping center with new and additional signage, a new driveway entrance off of Woodbury Avenue, and repurposing of the former supermarket space to separate retail space and new grocery space with accessory café/food court."

The driveway is proposed to be constructed where a building that formerly housed the Game Stop store. The grocer seeks to demolish that building for the new driveway.

During last month’s TAC meeting, Bosen told the TAC the driveway is important to Whole Foods from a visibility standpoint and if it's not approved, it would "pull the plug" on the plans.

Whole Foods in 2017 pulled the plug on plans to be part of the North End Portsmouth development, which did not come to fruition following a series of delays and legal challenges.

Whole Foods’ plans for the Durgin Square plaza space include 4,147 square feet of separate, unrelated retail space, and 41,980 square feet of supermarket space, including up to 1,000 square feet of cafe space as an accessory use, and up to 58 outdoor seating spaces. The former Shaw’s supermarket footprint will not change, per notice to the city.

In December, the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a variance for a new sign for the then-unnamed grocer.

The TAC is convened for advisory purposes only and the deciding authority is the Planning Board. Bosen said Whole Foods’ plan is expected to go to the Planning Board on March 19.

Shaw’s supermarket closed its 1600 Woodbury Ave. location last February after 26 years, due to under-performance, the company announced at that time. The building has been vacant since.