Northglenn has had the Garland Center on its radar for redevelopment for nearly 10 years.

As the city’s oldest retail center, built more than 50 years ago, it was the hardest to develop because of multiply property owners, aging infrastructure and a 95 percent vacancy rate, said Debbie Tuttle, the city’s economic development manager.

The city’s and the Northglenn Urban Renewal Authority’s patience paid off Friday when officials broke ground on a new Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. The Market will transform and revitalize the entire area, Mayor Joyce Downing said.

“It will also help fulfill the needs of our residents that have been requesting a new grocery store for years,” she said. “This project will bring new jobs and shopping opportunities to our community, and increase tax revenues which support city services for our residents.”

The store is expected to open in the fall and may employ up to 65 associates.

The 40,000-square-foot market will offer a full grocery department, including organic and natural selections, and a pharmacy. The store will feature prepared food options, fresh-baked breads, a self-serve deli and a bakery.

“In addition to providing customers with a convenient location for affordable groceries, the store will help boost the city’s economic growth and vitality,” Joshua Phair, Wal-Mart public affairs director said.

The site was vacant agricultural through the 1950s until 1962 when a 15,000-square-foot Safeway and a 10,000-square-foot Duckwall’s variety store opened, according to Tuttle.

“Over the last five decades businesses have come and gone as Northglenn grew from a planned community of 1,000 homes into a municipality of 35,000 residents,” she said. “Tenants included various retail stores, dry cleaning and laundry facilities, food and liquor stores and restaurants. Tugs Bar and Grill became a bit of a Northglenn landmark over the years.”

NURA Chair Rosie Garner said the project represents how urban renewal tools can be used to assist in redevelopment and revitalization of communities.

“I think it’s wonderful that NURA, the city and Wal-Mart were able to come together to make this project happen,” she said. “This is a perfect marriage in terms of what Wal-Mart was looking for in a location and what the city was looking for in redeveloping the Garland Center.”