By Mark Ambrogi

There is no timetable yet on when two former Marsh stores in the Zionsville area will reopen as Kroger stores.

Kroger engineers are focusing on seven stores to reopen. Following a downtown Indianapolis store, the Zionsville store at 5 Boone Village is expected to be the next store that will be ready.

“That one downtown on the canal is the newest of the bunch,” said Eric Halvorson, Kroger Co. public affairs manager who serves as company spokesman. “Repairs and remodeling there will be easier than some of the others.”

The store at 10679 N. Michigan Rd. on the Carmel and Zionsville border is listed fifth among those seven stores.

“We don’t have anything definite yet (on the opening date),” Halvorson said. “We’ll know more after our engineers get inside the buildings. A normal remodeling project could take anywhere from six to eight months. It is more complicated when stores are open for business.  Since the stores will be empty, we expect to move faster than usual. Our goal, in addition to addressing deferred maintenance, is to create stores that are instantly recognizable as Kroger stores.”

Topvalco, a subsidiary of the Kroger Co., finalized its purchase of 11 stores July 19 formerly owned by Marsh Supermarkets, which went out of business earlier this month. The signing by both parties capped an acquisition, which was approved by a federal bankruptcy court in June.

“Kroger will dedicate more than $20 million to renovate the buildings, prepare them for additional features and add energy-saving technology that is part of the Kroger commitment to become a Zero Waste company by 2020,” a Kroger Co. statement said.

Kroger has hired several hired several hundred ex-Marsh employees. According to the release, many are already in training or working at nearby stores.

Kroger’s human resources team remains open to interviewing all interested job seekers, the release said.

The Kroger Central Division has 137 food stores, 115 pharmacies and 98 fuel centers.