North Suffolk will be getting the region’s second Kroger Marketplace after the company announced plans to build one of the hybrid grocery stores at Hampton Roads Crossing, off College Drive in the Harbour View area.

The 123,000-square-feet store will combine a grocery store with 30,000 square feet of non-grocery retail space selling furniture, home décor, appliances, storage needs, kitchenware, office supplies and toys, a city news release says.

“Since first entering the market 10 years ago, we’ve learned a lot from the community and what our customers look for in a grocer,” stated Jay Cummins, Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic president.

“Suffolk deserves a top-quality grocery experience, and that includes local products, home goods, clean stores, low prices, and, of course, exceptional customer service.”

John Peterson III, senior vice president of Hampton Roads Crossing developer Terry Peterson Residential Companies, noted that the region’s only other Kroger Marketplace is in the early stages of construction off Holland Road in Virginia Beach. The next closest is in Richmond, he added.

Though the city release stated that work on the store is expected to begin in July, Peterson said that before it can go ahead, a rezoning application would likely be dealt with at February’s Planning Commission meeting.

“It’s just a matter of changing some small site details,” he said. “We are expecting the Planning Commission and City Council will understand the positives of Kroger Marketplace and will work with the company.”

Kroger’s announcement is on the heels of an up-tick in residential interest at the mixed-use development as the house market continues to recover, according to Peterson.

Florida-based Bain-bridge Companies has broken ground on 216 apartments after purchasing last August, for just under $10.4 million, about 10.6 acres from Terry Peterson Residential Companies imprint Terry/Peterson Residential 30.

“They are proceeding forward,” Peterson said, adding that his own company’s residential component is “selling pretty well, just like a lot of projects now in Hampton Roads.”

“We’re seeing the positive effects of the housing rebound,” he added.

Peterson hopes the Kroger Marketplace announcement will draw out more new tenants, with about 150,000 square feet of retail remaining to be leased.

“I think that the Kroger is certainly going to be a catalyst and anchor for the balance of retail shops,” he said.

“We’re looking to attract other tenants that can both fill the rest of the shopping center … as well as some smaller parcels along College Drive. … Those small pieces of land (along College Drive) we would sell.”

Suffolk Mayor Linda T. Johnson said the Harbour View area is “an expanding shopping and entertainment destination in the Hampton Roads region. We are excited to welcome the Kroger Marketplace to our growing city.”