Keller's IGA unveils plans to reopen

CINCINNATI - The former Keller's IGA will be called Goessling's Market-Clifton when it completes over $1.5 million renovation in January 2012.

The announcement was formally made at a 10 a.m. news conference on Wednesday when the Goessling family showed new signs with the new store. It is already on signs hanging in the Ludlow Avenue store front. The family name is pronounced guess-LING.

At the press conference, store owner Steve Goessling introduced the project's architect, Russ Mooney, a partner in Arch/Image 2 Architects, who will discuss the renovation plans, which include gutting the inside of the existing grocery, replacing the old wooden floor with concrete and completely refurbishing the exterior. The project is LEED Certified from the Green Building Council.

Goessling admitted there could be some unexpected surprises as renovations get underway. But he pleged the new Goessling's Markets-Clifton will open on time in January.

Applications for employment at the new grocery store are being accepted online at www.goesslings.com .

Keller's IGA was closed by the State of Ohio in January 2011 after it fell behind on its taxes. Then-owner John Vierling owed about $180,000 in taxes and an additional $90,000 in penalty fees. He made unsuccessful pleas to Gov. John Kasich to waive the penalties and setup a payment plan.

Clifton-area residents were also disappointed that the store had closed and had also unsuccessfully sought assistance from Cincinnati City Council. Some of them said they had hoped for a Fall 2011 opening, but were satisfied that Clifton will be getting its anchor grocery store back within 4 months, bigger and better than ever.

Among the changes at the Ludlow Avenue store, will be a new indoor-outdoor cafe on the building's west side that will offer coffee and sandwiches.

Goessling says assistance from the city for energy efficiency changes made it possible to renovate and reopen the store as a modern neighborhood supermarket. That's to the energy efficiency changes, the new Goessling's Market store will pay significantly lower property taxes for at least its first decade of existance.

The Goessling family owns several neighborhood IGA supermarkets throughout the Tri-State including locations in Reading, Gallatin County and in Georgetown, Kentucky.