Lidl has chosen Athlone for the development of its first new concept store in the region.
The new design would replace its existing branch on the Dublin road, and will have high ceilings and wide aisles as well as sustainability features including electric vehicle charger spaces, and a solar panel system.
The company is investing €10 million in the development which will employ 80 people during construction.
Ten new jobs would be created once open to build on the 35 employees already working in the existing store.
Planning permission is expected to be lodged this week, coming just after An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for a second Lidl store in Athlone, at the site of O'Meara's Garage, in Baylough.
The company says it's "reviewing" the decision and it's hopeful that a Baylough store would be developed "in due course".
