New Whole Foods store planned in CT part of ‘master-planned community’ with hotel, housing

Whole Foods Market grocery store is set to open a location in Cheshire, according to the developer Regency Centers.

Cheshire Crossing, a 152,000 square foot shopping center will be anchored by Whole Foods, will be the retail component of a master-planned community known as Stone Bridge Crossing. Upon completion, Stone Bridge Crossing will include 140 townhomes, 300 multi-family units, and a 125-room Homewood Suites hotel in addition to the shopping center.

Whole Foods will also be joined by a 23,000 square-foot TJ Maxx, with an additional 38,000-square feet of announced smaller storefront space.

Located at the intersection of Route 10 and the I-691 on-ramp, Cheshire Crossing straddles the Southington town line, and aims to serve both Hartford and New Haven counties.

“Cheshire Crossing is uniquely situated to serve Cheshire and a cluster of nearby towns with a lineup of retailers new to the area,” Regency Centers said in a press release.

Regency Centers, a national owner and developer of shopping centers, maintains nearly 500 properties across the country. The national retail developer also owns Corbin’s Corner in nearby West Hartford.

Whole Foods Market, which was acquired by Amazon in 2017, has expanded its reach across Connecticut. The retail giant opened a new location in South Windsor at The Shops at Evergreen Walk in January. Nearby to Cheshire, Whole Foods operates two locations in West Hartford and stores in Glastonbury and Milford. Further aiding its expansion in the state, Whole Foods completed a major renovation to its refrigerated distribution center in Cheshire in 2021, according to the company.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com