VICTOR, Idaho. — Broulim’s Fresh Foods hit pause in the development of its proposed Victor store location, announced the Victor City Clerk this afternoon.
Development of the 20,000-square-foot grocery store, which was approved last year by the City of Victor, has been subject to delay due to a lawsuit challenging the decision by Victor City Council to rezone the property Broulim’s had purchased to build the grocery store.
On March 4, District Judge Steven Boyce ruled the city had not violated due process by considering both the 2015 and 2021 comprehensive plans in reaching its decision to rezone the property. However, Boyce found the city council should have required a traffic study before approving a rezone of the property. As a result, Boyce ordered the decision to rezone the property to be vacated pending a new public hearing with the traffic study in hand. At the end of that hearing, Boyce ruled the city could either approve the rezone or not.
“Per Judge Boyce’s ruling, we have been working on completing a traffic study to satisfy the Judge’s decision,” Robert Broulim, president of Broulim’s Fresh Foods said.
Citing rising interest rates, labor shortages, higher material costs and the limitation in the size and design of the store that can be built in Victor, Broulim expressed that now may not be the best time to build a new store.
“Broulim’s is extremely grateful to the entire community living in the Teton Valley. The friendships we have and the support we receive as a local grocer are an indispensable part of our business and the livelihoods of our team members,” Broulim said.
“Over the past several years, we have partnered with Victor City to explore potential sites for a Broulim’s store within Victor city limits. We hope that, over time, we are able to rekindle our efforts to build a new grocery store in the Victor community,” Broulim said. “We are committed to the Teton Valley community, and our partnership with Victor City, as we strive to enrich the lives of those we serve.”
Victor Mayor Will Frohlich expressed disappointment with Broulim’s decision but also said he understands the difficulties businesses face right now.
“I completely understand the headwinds that businesses face right now and respect Broulim’s decision to pause development of a new store in our community until economic conditions improve.”
“The City remains committed to working with Broulim’s when the time is right to bring this matter back before the city council.”
Charlie Broulim started his first grocery store on Main Street in Rigby, Idaho, in 1922. Since then, Broulim’s has become an employee-owned company (ESOP) and expanded into new locations throughout Idaho and Western Wyoming. Broulim’s currently has ten store locations in Rigby, Rexburg, Montpelier, Driggs, St. Anthony, Soda Springs, Shelley, Afton, Alpine and Sandcreek.
