Grocery carts are finally rolling back onto Anderson’s west side. Needler’s Fresh Market will officially open a full-service grocery at 2810 Nichol Avenue on Thursday, March 19, with a mid-morning grand opening that organizers say starts at 11 a.m. and features a ribbon-cutting at 11:30 a.m., plus free samples and giveaways. The store returns neighborhood grocery shopping to the area after the Marsh supermarket at the same site closed in 2017.
Event Details From Organizers
According to the City of Anderson Government, grand opening guests can expect free samples and giveaways, and customers who sign up for a loyalty account at the event will receive $5 off. The post notes that Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. has invited the community to attend the ribbon-cutting. Organizers list the celebration start time as 11 a.m., with the ribbon-cutting scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
Hours, Services and Staffing
The Herald Bulletin reported that the store will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will include a bakery. The outlet also reported that Needler’s is expected to employ about 100 people at the Anderson location. According to The Herald Bulletin, a delay in securing a pharmacy license pushed the opening from Feb. 19 to March 19; officials say the license has since been obtained and shelves are being stocked. That extra time, the paper noted, allowed staff to wrap up final stocking and system checks before the celebration.
Redevelopment and Why It Matters
The 39,500-square-foot store moves into the former Marsh building, which the Anderson Redevelopment Commission bought in 2019 to protect the site. According to The City of Anderson, the commission later agreed to sell the property to developer KennMar under terms that required a minimum purchase price of $500,000.
KennMar describes the project as an effort to close a grocery gap on the west side and help anchor additional commercial investment along the Nichol Avenue corridor. Local leaders have framed the openings of Needler’s and the adjacent Ace Hardware as key steps in restoring basic services to neighborhoods affected by Marsh’s 2017 bankruptcy.
Plan Your Visit
Needler’s currently lists the Anderson store as “coming soon” on its online locator, confirming the address as 2810 Nichol Ave, Anderson, IN. Needler’s Fresh Market is encouraging shoppers to arrive early for opening-day specials and ribbon-cutting activities, so anyone hoping to be first in line for the new aisles may want to plan ahead.
