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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A full-service grocery is returning to a South Memphis intersection where a Kroger store closed last year.

Kroger officials announced Monday morning that the company had donated its former building on Lamar near Airways to a competitor, locally owned Superlo Foods, which will open in the space.

Superlo hopes to have the new store operating by Dec. 1. Randy Stepherson, president and board chairman of SuperLo Foods, said the company was happy to be entering the Orange Mound market.

Kroger officials said the company had never before donated a building, but had set aside competition to keep a promise made to the community to bring a full-service grocery store back to the Orange Mound area. The building is worth about $500,000.

“Since becoming the president of Kroger Delta in February, it has been a priority for us to keep our promise to the City of Memphis and the Orange Mound community,” said Victor Smith, president, Kroger Delta Division.

Kroger closed the Lamar Avenue store in February 2018, leading to complaints from the community. The Rev. Jesse Jackson threatened a boycott of the chain.

City officials including Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and District 4 City Council representative Jamita Swearengen attended an announcement Monday at Kroger’s Delta Division headquarters.

Superlo, a family- and employee-owned company, has about a half-dozen locations in the Memphis area, although none are currently located in Orange Mound or South Memphis.

Kroger announces it is donating its old building in Orange Mound off Lamar & Airways to SuperLo. Donation worth about $500,000. SuperLo hopes to have the place operating by Dec.1 @3onyourside pic.twitter.com/1hgQPZOl0L — Shay Arthur (@ShayA_WREG3) September 30, 2019