Blanchard Real Estate has announced it will be developing a Krogeranchored power center in Dawsonville.

According to a release by Blanchard, the Hwy. 400 site, which sits on the southbound side of the highway, between Whitmire and Dawson Forest roads, was recently approved by Kroger, who plans to open one of Georgia's largest grocery stores at approximately 123,000 square feet, with a nine pump Kroger Fuel Center.

"This has been a year-long process," said County Commissioner Chairman Mike Berg. "We would really like to thank [the Georgia Department of Transportation] for working with this and [Dawson County Development Authority President] Charlie Auvermann for all the hard work he's put into this, as well. We are looking forward to Kroger and all of the other businesses coming into this center."

Previously, it had been rumored that Kroger was looking for a new location due to the Hwy. 400 continuous flow intersection construction potentially blocking off the grocer's entryway.

In addition to the Kroger Marketplace, Blanchard has secured national retailer commitments exceeding 200,000 square feet.

The completed development is expected to give the Dawson County are a "wide array of choices for food and shopping" for the greater Dawsonville community and visitors to the county, according to Blanchard.

The project is scheduled to break ground late this summer.