Kroger plans new fuel center and marketplace store in Zionsville and Whitestown

The Whitestown Plan Commission meeting held on June 9, 2025, focused primarily on the proposed Kroger Fueling Station, presented by Anne McBride from McBride, Dale Clarion. The meeting began with McBride introducing herself and her team, which included representatives from Kroger and their engineering staff.

McBride outlined the plans for a new Kroger marketplace store, set to be built on the south side of Center Drive in Zionsville, which will include a fuel center located on the north side of Center Drive within Whitestown. The proposed site, currently occupied by a vacant Big O Tire building, spans approximately 1.24 acres and is zoned as a General Business (GB) district.

The fuel center will feature seven double-sided pump islands, providing a total of 14 fueling locations, along with a 277-square-foot kiosk for staff. The design includes five parking spaces, a dumpster area that will be enclosed and landscaped, and compliance with zoning requirements. McBride noted that the fuel center is permitted in the GB district as a special exception, which was approved by the Board of Appeals on March 6, 2025, along with several variances related to signage and building size.

Access to the site will be managed through a full access point on the eastern side and a right turn in and out on the left side of Center Drive, near a proposed roundabout. The design aims to improve traffic flow and includes shared access with a neighboring Taco Bell, with landscaping planned to delineate the two uses.

The landscaping plan includes a variety of trees and shrubs, although some areas are restricted due to utility easements. McBride also discussed the limited outdoor merchandising that Kroger typically offers at their fuel stations, which will be primarily located under the canopy, including automotive supplies, cold drinks, snacks, and firewood, with the exception of a propane cage that will be landscaped and positioned outside the pavement area.

The building design will feature earth tone colors, predominantly tans and light browns, to blend with the surrounding environment. The meeting concluded with a focus on the next steps for the project, as the commission considered the implications of the proposed fuel center on the community.