Dillons breaks ground on its new Olathe grocery store

The grocery store broke ground on Wednesday afternoon, targeting a fall 2027 opening as it returns to Johnson County.

A Kansas-based grocer’s new Olathe store has officially begun to take shape.

This week, grocery chain Dillons held a groundbreaking in Olathe, marking the start of construction as the store works toward an opening in 2027.

Dillons is coming to ​​College and Sunnybrook boulevards

  • The grocery store will occupy a site at College and Sunnybrook boulevards in Olathe.
  • The store will be near Meadow Lane Elementary School, Kansas State University’s Olathe campus, and the Primrose School of North Olathe.
  • Pending construction, developers expect the grocery store to open in fall 2027.

Dillons left Johnson County nearly 20 years ago

The grocer left the Kansas City metro area in 2008. Before its departure from the area, Dillons once had stores in Olathe and Shawnee.

Previously, Dillons officials said the new Olathe store will mark the start of a wider-scale return to the Kansas City metro area, with more stores on the horizon.

“Your new Dillons Marketplace represents an investment of more than $40 million and underscores our long-term commitment to this growing community,” said Steve Dreher, Dillon Stores Division President, at Wednesday’s event. “It marks not only our return to Olathe but also serves as an important milestone as we expand our presence throughout the Kansas City market.”

The new store is expected to bring 250 new jobs into Olathe.

“Ever since we announced that Dillons was returning to Olathe, the response from customers and the community has been incredible,” Dreher said. “Everywhere we go, people are talking about it, sharing memories of shopping at Dillons, and asking when the new store will open. The excitement is real, and the energy surrounding our return has been unbelievable.”

There’s more to come at the new Dillons site

  • The new grocery store will bring a new mixed-use development with it, including apartments, townhomes, retail and dining.
  • That plan got approval from the Olathe City Council in September.
  • Specific businesses have not yet been named for that development, though developer plans previously mentioned restaurants and medical offices as potential examples.

Want more local business news? The Peddler’s Daughter, ‘a country store’, opens in Old Town Lenexa

Before you go...

Thanks for reading! If you value having an independent news outlet keeping tabs on local government, schools and taxes, we're asking you to contribute to our Education Reporting Fund.

Report for America pays for half of our K-12 beat reporter's salary. Donations from readers like you cover the other half.

Gifts of any size are greatly appreciated. And all donations are tax deductible.

Support Education Funding

About the author

Lucie Krisman
Lucie Krisman

Hi! I’m Lucie Krisman, and I cover local business for the Johnson County Post.

I’m a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, but have been living in Kansas since I moved here to attend KU, where I earned my degree in journalism. Prior to joining the Post, I did work for The Pitch, the Eudora Times, the North Dakota Newspaper Association and KTUL in Tulsa.

Have a story idea or a comment about our coverage you’d like to share? Email me at [email protected].

LATEST HEADLINES