City Commissioners pave the way for a new grocery store to be open in North Salina by the end of the year. Commissioners Monday approved up to $250,000 in sales tax reimbursement to help finance the project.

A Save-A-Lot neighborhood grocery store will be built in the vacant building that formerly housed a Dillons grocery store at 511 East Iron Avenue.

Save-A-Lot has more than 1,300 stores nationwide. According to the company website, they deliver savings on discount groceries, up to 40% compared to conventional grocery stores.

The building on Iron Avenue has been vacant since late 2012, when Dillons closed the store as they opened a new location on East Cloud Street.

Once work begins, the owners believe it will 5 to 6 months to get the store ready to open. The goal is to have it open before the end of the year.