Food City bringing another location to north Alabama city

Food City is bringing another location to north Alabama - this time to Athens.

According to an announcement from the city, the project will be located at Elm and Lucas Ferry Street.

The $19.5 million store will employ about 200 people. There was no announcement on when it might open.

The city expects the store to generate about $23 million in annual sales.

Mayor Ronnie Marks said residents of west Athens have requested more commercial development in that sector of the city. Much of the population and retail growth has been seen on the east side, along major thoroughfares such as U.S. 31 and Interstate 65.