Kettering residents offered bus program to Centerville Kroger

Kroger will provide a temporary rider program for customers who relied on the Whipp Road Kroger, according to Kroger spokeswoman Patty Leesemann.

The Kroger at Oak Creek Plaza on Whipp Road in Kettering closed June 7, a day before the grand opening of the new, 115,000-square-foot store at Cornerstone of Centerville. When it was announced Kroger was leaving Kettering, residents near Oak Creek Plaza voiced their concerns with the lack of other options available.

RELATED: Planned Kroger departure leaves residents uneasy

Now Kroger will offer the Whipp Road Bus Program, which began on June 8 and will run through the end of August. Registered customers who shop at the Cornerstone Kroger and spend a minimum of $20 in the same transaction will receive roundtrip RTA bus fare.

RELATED: As Kroger opens, Cornerstone of Centerville continues to boom

The offer applies to two shopping trips per week, per household, Leesemann said.

Leesemann said registration for the program took place from May 22 through June 7 after placing advertisements throughout the store.

While the Kroger on Whipp has officially closed, they are still in a lease agreement with the Oak Creek Plaza property through the end of 2017. Brent Fabbri, leasing agent for Oak Creek Plaza, said he has “some things in the works” for a replacement for Kroger but would not say what that might be.

Fabbri indicated that the new tenant may not be a grocer.

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