Recognizing Caldwell’s growth, this grocery giant is planning a new store

It is approximately a 20-mile round trip from downtown Caldwell to the nearest Fred Meyer, which is in Nampa.

It could be a distance many residents don’t want to travel.

But perhaps as soon as next year, it will be much easier for people living in the growing Canyon County city to shop for groceries and goods if they want to frequent a Fred Meyer.

The company, owned by grocery giant Kroger, is developing a new store at U.S. 26 and Middleton Road on the east side of Caldwell — the first new Fred Meyer in the greater Boise area in well over a decade, since the Eagle Island location opened in the summer of 2012.

The store will open in late 2026 or early 2027, with a more exact opening date set after developers break ground next spring, according to a Fred Meyer news release.

“It’s just super exciting for them to recognize the growth of Caldwell, all of the great things happening out here, and to choose us as their first location in several years,” Caldwell Mayor Jarom Wagoner told the Idaho Statesman.

The retailer said the new store would cover about 155,000 square feet and employ around 300 people. The project is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $60 million, Fred Meyer President Todd Kammeyer said in the release.

The development of the land will increase values in the area and the revenue the city gets will have a great impact on the Caldwell economy, Wagoner said.

“It just provides a great opportunity for growth in so many different areas for the Caldwell community,” Wagoner said.

Caldwell’s population has grown at a rate eclipsing 21% since the 2020 U.S. Census, making it one of the fastest-growing places in the nation, according to the city. Its population was 46,000 in 2010, 59,000 in 2020 and sits at nearly 69,000 now.

“With the growth that we continue to experience, we have been waiting for this. This is definitely much-needed and much-anticipated,” Wagoner said.

Kammeyer touted how modern the store will be in a news release, with all of the typical offerings, as well as home goods, apparel, fuel and garden centers, a drive-up pharmacy, a Starbucks, a Fred Meyer Jewelers and a Murray’s Cheese shop. It also will have a wide selection of cosmetics and new brands, Kammeyer said.

“I’m really excited about the future growth of Caldwell, and we’re excited for the privilege to be there along with all of that,” Kammeyer said.

“It’s going to be a very modern, new-concept store. It’ll be the latest design that we are putting in, and there won’t be another Fred Meyer store in the area that will look like this after we get the new store open.”

Fred Meyer is buying the property from CBH Homes, whose president and owner, Corey Barton, told the Statesman that it has owned the 14 acres since 2021.

Kammeyer said Fred Meyer hopes to make the grand opening a “really fun, full community event” once that date arrives. He said it would fit the store’s goal of being a “great community partner.”

“We are just extremely excited to be able to be part of that, and (we) look forward to this store, but also future stores in the greater Boise market,” Kammeyer said.

This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM.