Giant Food Stores has announced the Walnutport store will open at 8 a.m. May 17 at 300 S. Best Ave, Walnutport.

The new 55,000-square-foot store will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, and is expected to bring about 200 full and part time jobs to the Walnutport community.

Steve Bowlby, a 27-year grocery veteran, has been appointed store manager.

The first 200 customers in line will receive a free Giant reusable shopping bag and other grand opening giveaways.

Customers can choose to visit in-store, or order their groceries online for curbside pickup with Giant Direct at peapod.com.

The store will feature a farm fresh produce department that has over 350 items; a full-service deli; meats and USDA prime cuts; a fresh seafood department; a full-service bakery and a floral department.

“We take great pride in our unique local selections, and we are honored to feature PA Preferred items throughout each of our departments,” said Bowlby. “For example, in our bakery, customers will find dessert items crafted by local favorite Kiffle Kitchen.”

The store will also feature a Beer & Wine Eatery, with more than 300 varieties of beer and wine, curated with a focus on Pennsylvania craft beer and intriguing wine selections, along with hyperlocal beers within the special Mix-a-Six case, where customers can mix and match to find new favorites.

The eatery seats 30 and will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

The store also offers catering options. Customers can call 1-888-442-6812, place an order at the store, or simply order online at giantfoodstores.com.

The store will also include a Giant fuel station, where for every $100 spent on groceries using a BonusCard, customers receive 10 cents off per gallon of gas when they fill up as part of Gas Extra Rewards. Six pumps are available.

Giant will also extend its commitment to the Walnutport community through Living Here, Giving Here, with a presentation to local community groups on May 16.

Diamond Fire Company, Northern Lehigh Food Bank, Northern Lehigh School District, Walnutport Police Department, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will each receive a $1,000 donation.

The store is also assigned a feeding agency partner to receive weekly food donations through the company’s food rescue program, including its acclaimed “Meat the Needs” initiative.

The opening of the store is part of a $70 million capital investment the company announced last year to grow its store network.

The Giant in Walnutport will replace the former Pathmark store.

In July 2015, grocery store chain A&P, which also operates Pathmark and Super Fresh stores in the area, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and planned to close or sell off stores. Twenty-five stores closed, including the one in Walnutport.

The building previously housed a Super Fresh supermarket, and before that, a Kmart.

A Giant food store has been located in the Carbon Plaza Mall in Lehighton since 2001. Last year, it became Carbon County’s first supermarket to sell beer and wine.