Safeway Anticipates Fall Groundbreaking at Maui Lani

By Wendy Osher

Maui Lani, file photo by Wendy Osher.

Developers of a planned 60,000 square-foot Safeway grocery store on Maui, are moving forward with a lease to establish the retailer as the anchor tenant of the planned Maui Lani Center.

Safeway announced the agreement yesterday with developer HRT Ltd., a subsidiary of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Trust.

Safeway anticipates breaking ground on the project this fall, with construction expected to last approximately 12 months. The grand opening is targeted for Winter 2012.  The grocery store retailer plans to feature the company’s  “Lifestyle” format at the Maui Lani location, with its own prepared food offerings – including sushi, signature sandwiches and hot soups.

The Maui Planning Commission recently granted approval for the 13-acre center, located across the street from Baldwin High School in Wailuku.  Plans call for the development of 105,000 square-feet of retail, restaurant and office space and 550 parking stalls. Wendell Brooks, III, of CB Richard Ellis, has been retained to lease the balance of Maui Lani Center.

“We are very excited to partner with HRT Ltd., and The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Trust on this project and to serve as the anchor tenant,” said Steve Berndt, vice president of Real Estate for Safeway. “This will bring a much-needed supermarket to the residents of the growing Central Maui region,” he said.

The store would bring to four the total number of Safeway locations on Maui.  Other retail locations include Kahului, Lahaina and Kihei.  Safeway recently held a grand opening for its newest store in Hilo at Makaʻala Center, and is currently building a new store in urban Honolulu at the site of the former Schuman Carriage auto dealership.

Plans are also underway to develop additional Safeway stores in Ewa Beach on O’ahu and in Lihu’e on Kaua’i.  Both stores are expected to break ground within the next 12 months.