Landmark hotel reopens and grocers expand

The reopening of The Edgewater Hotel marked one of the biggest stories of 2014 but it also was a year that saw additions in the grocery market and expansions in retail.

The Edgewater Hotel: After years of debate, two years of construction and a $100 million renovation and expansion, owner Robert Dunn reopened The Edgewater Hotel on Lake Mendotas east shore and on the west end of Wisconsin Avenue.

The 202-room property, with 356,220 square feet of space, includes four restaurants, a ballroom, private roof-top event spaces, a spa and a digital gallery that celebrates Madison. Construction began in November 2012 and included closing the hotel, building a 15-story tower and removing parts of the 1970s addition and renovating what remained of the original structure that opened in 1948. This spring, construction will begin on a 150-foot permanent pier that will include two floating piers with 38 boat slips.

Grocers continue to expand: One of the most competitive grocery markets in the Midwest continued to add aisles, although one long-time grocery store closed its doors.

Shortly after Roundys opened its 58,000-square-foot Metro Market at 6010 Cottage Grove Road in June, Tammy and Joe Wirag announced they would close their 25,000-square-foot Sentry store just blocks away after 40 years in business.

Willy Street Co-op completed a $4 million renovation to its flagship store at 1221 Williamson St. The project added higher shelving, an expanded courtyard, a pizza oven and storage. The co-op could announce this year a site for a third store.

Other new grocery store openings in 2014 included a Hy-Vee in Fitchburg, the $7 million Lake Mills Market in Lake Mills and, for the college students, a Kwik Trip store but without gas pumps on the ground level of Varsity Quarters, a six-story, 129-bed apartment building at 1423 Monroe St. In the 800 block of East Washington Avenue, Gebhardt Development of Madison broke ground on a $65 million multi-use development that will include a 75,000-square-foot grocery store from Onalaska-based Skogen Festival Foods

Retail happenings: To the relief of businesses, homeowners and commuters, the reconstruction of East Johnson Street was finalized this fall while the Verona Road project continued on schedule but still has two years of work remaining. Hilldale Shopping Center in September began a $15 million redevelopment that covers 53,000 square feet. The project, scheduled for completion this spring, is designed to create more open spaces and revitalize the backside of the mall.

The Shoppes at Prairie Lakes in Sun Prairie continues to expand. Major projects underway at the 110-acre development include the construction of an 86,000-square-foot Cabelas that began in June and a 100,000-square-foot, 12-screen cinema by Marcus Theatres that broke ground in May.

The Habitat ReStore East moved to a larger space at 4207 Monona Drive; Webers Bakery in Lodi closed in March after 92 years in business and Robert Blain, president, CEO and co-owner of Blain Supply and Blains Farm & Fleet, announced in June his retirement from the Janesville-based company. His sister, Jane Blain Gilbertson, has assumed his role.

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Landmark hotel reopens and grocers expand