GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — A major grocery-store project that has been years in the making is now taking shape along Jimmie Leeds Road, giving Galloway Township residents a look at what will eventually replace the community's existing ShopRite.
The new approximately 86,000-square-foot ShopRite is being built at 501 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, just a short distance from the current store at the intersection of Jimmie Leeds Road and South Pitney Road.
The project was approved by Galloway Township in 2020, but construction did not begin immediately. Land clearing finally got underway last summer, followed by initial foundation work earlier this year.
Construction has now progressed significantly. The main supermarket structure is standing and largely enclosed, with crews continuing work on the site.
The new supermarket will be more than 50 percent larger than the existing approximately 55,000-square-foot store. Plans call for more than 500 parking spaces, as well as a new traffic signal at the entrance to the development.
The project also includes two retail pad sites along the front of the property. One is being developed alongside the ShopRite, while the second remains available for future development. No tenants have been announced.
Village Super Market, which operates the Galloway ShopRite, expects the new store to open during its 2027 fiscal year.
The project has attracted attention not only because of the size of the new supermarket, but also because of what could happen to the existing ShopRite once the new location opens.
The current 55,040-square-foot building is expected to become available after the new store is completed. According to Galloway Township planning documents, AtlantiCare Health Services has received administrative approval to change the use of the existing supermarket building to medical offices, including potentially an urgent-care center.
No final redevelopment plan for the existing building has been announced, but the possibility of converting the large supermarket into medical space could significantly change the area.
The new ShopRite project is also occurring as AtlantiCare continues expanding its presence in Galloway Township. The health system recently opened a new rehabilitation hospital in the township.
For residents who have been watching the project since its approval in 2020, the biggest change is simply seeing the supermarket finally rise from the ground.
After years of planning and regulatory work, the new Galloway ShopRite is no longer just a proposal on a planning-board document — it's becoming a very large building along Jimmie Leeds Road.
South Jersey NewsBeat will continue to follow the construction and plans for the existing ShopRite property as more details become available.
About the Author
Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
