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A growing grocery chain with an emphasis on healthy living is coming soon, according to a DeLand city official.

Earth Fare has secured permits to renovate and occupy part of the former Winn-Dixie Supermarket in the West Volusia Regional Shopping Center on DeLand’s south side.

“They’re going to take up a third to a half of that space,” DeLand Planning Director Mike Holmes told The Beacon. “As far as I can tell, this is their first in Volusia.”

Holmes said he has visited an Earth Fare store in Jacksonville, where his daughter lives. Earth Fare’s corporate headquarters are in Asheville, North Carolina. Earth Fare’s web site also shows stores in Orlando and Ocala.

Work is already under way in front of and inside the former Winn-Dixie building. Winn-Dixie closed its store there ini 2018 in a corporate cost-cutting effort.

Earth Fare has a $200,000 demolition permit, Holmes said, and a $3 million building permit for interior renovation.

So far, Earth Fare has not responded to The Beacon’s request for query about its intentions to serve the West Volusia area.