New Island Naturals store still in works

A planned new flagship location for the Island Naturals grocery chain in Hilo is progressing slowly but surely.

Last year, Island Naturals owner Russell Ruderman announced his intention to build a 67,000 square-foot retail center at the corner of Kekuanaoa and Mililani streets that would house a new flagship location for the franchise.

On Monday, Ruderman said opening the new location is still a few years away, but progress is being made. Last month, he said, Island Naturals applied for a permit for plan approval, which he said is a preliminary process that will ultimately pave the way for the project’s building permits.

“We gave them very basic drawings of what we want the plans to look like,” Ruderman said, adding that the general plans for the center have not changed since last year.

In addition to the store location itself, Ruderman said the center will include 10-20 additional retail units for “like-minded businesses.”

Ruderman said he thinks the plan approval process could be completed this year, and that Island Naturals could be able to apply for building permits before 2023.

“It’s still a location twice the size of our current (Hilo) location, with a kitchen three times the size of our current kitchen, so that’s nice,” Ruderman said.

In the meantime, Ruderman said Island Naturals’ Kailua-Kona location will officially move to a larger site at the Kona Commons shopping mall later this month.