Lund Food Holdings Inc. announced Tuesday that it will anchor the retail/apartment complex that is part of the Highland Bridge development on the former Ford plant site in St. Paul.

The new Lunds & Byerlys store will be 51,000 square feet, 20% larger than the Highland Park store it will replace, and will open in 2022. Employees at the existing store at 2128 Ford Parkway will be transferred to the new store.

"It has been with a tremendous amount of pride that we have served the Highland Park community for more than 37 years, and we're excited to open a new store less than a block away that will create an enhanced shopping experience for our customers," said Tres Lund, CEO of Lunds & Byerlys, in a statement.

The layout of the grocery aisles in the new store will follow the existing store's pattern to minimize the disruption of a new store for longtime customers. The plan includes two levels of covered parking.

Part of the expanded space will be devoted to prepared foods, which have experienced strong, sustained growth in the past seven years, according to IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm.

The complex also will include 230 apartments.

The 122-acre site being developed by Ryan Cos. on the site of the former Ford auto factory will include 3,800 housing units including a senior complex, single-family homes and row homes.

"Grocery is a critical component to the success of a neighborhood, and no one can match Lunds' passion for quality and their long-term commitment to the Highland Park neighborhood," said Maureen Michalski, vice president of development at Ryan Cos., in a statement.

Minneapolis-based Ryan offers commercial real estate services as a developer, architect, builder and real estate manager. It has nearly 1,500 employees in 15 offices and has completed projects in 39 states.

Edina-based Lund Food Holdings operates 27 Lunds & Byerlys grocery stores throughout the Twin Cities. Its most recent store opened in White Bear Lake in 2018.

The existing Highland Park store opened in 1983.

Spokesman Aaron Sorenson said the company has long-term plans for the existing property to remain under Lunds & Byerlys control but declined to elaborate.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633