Dec. 13—RIVERSIDE — Kroger this week will open the first piece of its new Riverside store site.

The fuel center at the $23 million future Kroger store at Woodman Drive and Burkhardt Road will be the site of a grand opening at 11 a.m. Friday, according to the Cincinnati-based retailer.

The $1.6 million fuel center will be part the 100,349-square-foot store now under construction and targeted to open in early 2023, housing about 160 jobs, the company said.

Kroger is not releasing an anticipated store opening date yet, said Jenifer Moore, Kroger corporate affairs manager.

But "they are moving along at a tremendous clip," Riverside Mayor Pete Williams. "The site is changing on a daily basis. The investment in the community is obviously substantial. And Kroger is proving to be a very vital community partner for us."

The property at 601 Woodman was vacated by Kmart in 2017, officials said.

The fuel site is at 4930 Burkhardt, while the store will have the same address as the former Kmart before it, which was demolished earlier this year, according to Kroger.

The fuel center will include 10 pumping stations and offer snacks, beverages and lottery sales, along with air compressor and propane sales, the company said.

"We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of the new Kroger Fuel Center in Riverside and invite shoppers to take advantage of extra savings as they fill up their tank for their next holiday shopping trip or to hit the road to see loved ones," Moore said, referring to the company's loyalty program.

When the new Kroger opens, stores on Spinning Road in Riverside and Smithville Road in Dayton will close, company officials have said.

The new site will not be a Kroger Marketplace, but will include 465 parking spaces, 15 online pickup spaces, a pharmacy drive through and a five-pump gas station, according to Moore.

Aside from Starbucks, it will feature a floral shop, sushi, bakery and meat/seafood departments, she said.