Construction on a planned flagship location for Island Naturals in Hilo isn’t expected to begin for another year at least.
In 2021, Russell Ruderman, former state senator and owner of grocery chain Island Naturals, announced plans to build a new retail center at the intersection of Kekuanaoa and Mililani streets in Hilo that would house the franchise’s new flagship location.
Since then, work on the project has continued slowly but surely, Ruderman said Thursday.
“We’re still moving forward,” Ruderman said. “I would guess it’s still a year before groundbreaking starts and another year before it opens. Probably a bit longer.”
Tax records indicate that Ruderman purchased the 4.4-acre parcel in 2019 for $1.9 million.
Ruderman said his team has completed soil remediation work on the parcel, and has received state planning approval and a special management area permit. Currently, he said the center’s design itself is being finalized, and should be completed within about three months.
“We haven’t hit any major stumbling blocks so far,” Ruderman said, adding that the project has received little opposition or concerns during previous phases of public outreach.
The planned project has changed little from its original concept. The retail center is planned to consist of two buildings, one of which would house the new Island Naturals location, while the other would house about 10,000-12,000 square feet of space for other businesses.
Once the center is completed, the current Island Naturals location at the Hilo Shopping Center will close. Ruderman noted that the new flagship is expected to be have about 1.5 times the retail space of the current Hilo location, along with a commercial kitchen about three times the size of the store’s current kitchen.
Altogether, Ruderman said both buildings will have about 50,000 square feet, explaining that only one of the two buildings is planned to have a second floor of offices — previous plans anticipated that both buildings could have a second floor.
In addition to the two buildings, Ruderman said the center will include space for a drive-thru business and some green space that he said could be used for outdoor gatherings or concerts.
“We want it to be a very nice corner of town, not just an average strip mall,” Ruderman said.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
