Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is eyeing a new location in Boulder.

Developer Equity Ventures Commercial Development and the Lakewood-based grocer submitted a site plan to build a 16,600-square-foot store in place of the former Olive Garden restaurant at 2685 Pearl St., according to documents filed with Boulder's Planning Department.

The proposed organic grocery would be almost twice as big as Natural Grocers' existing location at 2355 30th St., where the grocer has operated for 16 years. The site plan documents do not indicate whether the proposed store would be a relocation for the 30th Street site, a homey market that sits a couple hundred feet from Whole Foods' comparably gigantic 79,000-square-foot store.

The proposed store is about 0.4 miles west of Natural Grocers' existing location, which is owned by Realty Income Corp., according to Boulder County property records.

Officials for Natural Grocers declined to comment Tuesday, and officials for Equity Ventures Commercial Development and Realty Income Corp. could not be reached.

As she loaded bags of groceries in front of Natural Grocers' sole Boulder store on Tuesday, Boulder resident and loyal customer Heather Baines said she would welcome a larger location.

"This store is cozy," she said. "If we get to spread out a little bit more, then I'm all for that."

Baines, 40, said her family moved to Boulder three years ago from Evergreen, where Natural Grocers operated a newer location.

"This one is due for an update," she said.

As part of the proposal submitted to the city, the existing 9,300-square-foot former Olive Garden would be razed and replaced by a 16,600-square-foot building that would sit closer to Pearl Street. The new building would have a first floor totaling 15,500 square feet and a 1,100-square-foot mezzanine for office space.

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Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage plans new Boulder store at Olive Garden site

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