Plans Call For Marlborough Price Chopper To Become Market 32

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The Marlborough Price Chopper store may soon undergo a $4.5 million renovation to become a more upscale Market 32 supermarket, part of a wider Price Chopper rebranding plan.

Price Chopper is in the midst of applying for a permit to sell beer and wine, and detailed its plans for the Market 32 rebranding in an application before the Marlborough Licensing Board.

"The renovated store will have an expanded produce department with added variety, new offerings in our prepared foods and specialty cheese sections, as well as an enhanced lineup of products in both our meat and seafood departments," the application says. "Additionally, modern new fixtures will enable us to showcase an expanded lineup of both specialty and natural organic grocery items. Finally, our new Beer and Wine department will create a one-stop shopping experience that is sure to make our customers’ lives easier."

Last May, Schenectady, N.Y.-based Price Chopper announced plans to convert many of its traditional stores into the company's Market 32 brand. The company plans to covert about half of all Price Choppers to the Market 32 format in about five years.

Price Chopper is one of the larger supermarket players in central Massachusetts with 11 stores in an area between Marlborough, Gardner, Worcester and Webster. The chain only operates four Market 32 stores in the state in Worcester, Lenox, Sutton and Pittsfield.

If the store gets approval to sell beer and wine in Marlborough, the renovation could begin as soon as April, with a target grand opening date of Sept. 7, according to plans. The Licensing Board will discuss the application at a meeting scheduled for Thursday.