Winn-Dixie signs lease for Inverness Corners

Inverness Corners will be home to a Winn-Dixie grocery store by this fall.

The grocery chain executed a lease with Bayer Properties on Feb. 20 and plans to begin construction this spring. Sam Heide, director of leasing at Bayer Properties, represented the owner at the lease signing.

The 54,000-square-foot anchor store off Highway 280 has been vacant since Bruno’s closed in the summer of 2009.

Winn-Dixie originally applied for a permit with the City of Hoover for the space on Dec. 14, 2011. Three days later, Bi-Low purchased Winn-Dixie, which slowed the execution of a lease.

Pastry Art Bake Shoppe Owner Dennis Gregg said he is excited about the news, having leased retail space in there two and a half years ago thinking a big box store would move into the former Bruno’s space.

“It’s going to be good for everyone in Inverness Corners,” Gregg said. “Any time you have a draw like [Winn-Dixie], it’s going to increase everyone’s business.”