Yoke’s Fresh Market mum about plan in Airway Heights

Is Airway Heights ticketed for a Yoke’s Fresh Market?

John Bole, president of Yoke’s, plays a leading role. He said he’s not ready to publicly discuss his plans.

Currently, Pring Corp. leases its building to Yoke’s.

The Spokane-based supermarket chain owns 10 acres on the 12000 block of W. Sunset Highway. The land could be used to build a Yoke’s Fresh Market store.

However, what if another grocery chain beats Yoke’s to the punch? Talk of Albertsons coming into a 141-acre development on the east end of town is all but dead.

However, Lowell McKee, representing developer Vandervert Construction, Inc., said he expects to make an “absolutely major” announcement about a tenant soon. He would not be specific on this timetable but said it would be before the end of the year.

Does that mean Airway Heights will have two super-size supermarkets?

“Nobody knows,” said Tom Lien, Airway Heights’ director of community development, “On a step-by-step basis, there are so many different players.”

Vandervert Construction is indirectly involved in the future of a recreation center.

Vandervert is developing Crosspointe Plaza, a strip mall on 28 acres of the 141-acre development north of West Sunset Highway, east of Hayford Road. A newly constructed brick building there has roughly 13,000 square feet of space and could be leased to as many as six retailers.

There’s word that Starbucks is going to be one of the tenants. McKee wouldn’t confirm or deny the rumor.

Albertsons, which has teamed with Vandervert for past projects, was considering becoming the anchor tenant in the complex. Originally, a sign advertising, “Future home of Albertsons” was posted on the property. The sign has been removed.

“At this time, there are no plans (to build in Airway Heights) that I’m aware of,” said Danielle Killpack, an Albertsons spokeswoman based in the company’s corporate office in Boise. “If we had applied for permits, you’d know about it.”

Because Bole, of Yoke’s, remains mum, the city will have to wait to find out whether construction of another supermarket would affect Yoke’s decision to build.