The Pizzuti Companies has purchased the Giant Eagle store at 280 E. Whittier St. near German Village. The developer closed on the 2.3-acre site two days ago for $5.35 million, according the Franklin County Auditor’s site.
Curtis Davis, zoning chair of the South Side Area Commission, said he has spoken with representatives of both Pizutti and Giant Eagle to “encourage them to keep the Giant Eagle there and do an upgrade, but they have not made any commitments as of yet.”
Giant Eagle does not have any plans to close the store – it was not one of the three local stores that were shuttered earlier this year.
“It is a privilege for Giant Eagle to serve German Village and the surrounding neighborhoods from our store located on Whittier Street and the recent real estate transaction will not impact our operations,” said Dan Donovan, a Giant Eagle spokesperson. “The exchange between landlords will not affect the terms of our lease, which has multiple years remaining and several options for extension.”
The Neil Avenue Giant Eagle in Victorian Village, which closed in March, was bought by CASTO, meaning that local developers now own the land beneath two prominent Giant Eagle stores in central city neighborhoods – although whether either site will eventually be redeveloped remains unknown.
There has been speculation in the neighborhood that the Whittier site could support a Giant Eagle Market District Express, like the two-story Bexley store that sits on a 1.4 acre lot on Main Street.
A Pizzuti spokesman said that the company is not commenting on the purchase at this time.