A new Super 1 Foods location is coming to Post Falls, marking the first store expansion by the chain’s local ownership in six years. The 56,000-square-foot grocery will anchor the intersection of Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday. Owners Randy and Ron McIntire selected the site based on projected population growth patterns across Kootenai County.
The Post Falls store will distinguish itself with an expanded deli counter, larger produce department, and a significantly bigger natural foods section compared to other Super 1 locations in the McIntire portfolio. Randy McIntire said the store “will have a larger deli, produce department and a much larger natural food section than our other stores,” and noted that the expansion represents a meaningful addition to the regional grocery market after years without new construction. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a new store, and it will be really nice to have it in that marketplace,” he told the Coeur d’Alene Press.
Growth in the Panhandle Grocery Market
The new Post Falls location brings the McIntire family’s total portfolio to 17 Super 1 Foods stores—nine in Idaho and eight in Montana. The last new store opened in 2020; before that, the McIntires developed locations in Oldtown and Athol. The Post Falls area already hosts multiple Super 1 locations in Rathdrum, Sandpoint, and Bonners Ferry, in addition to the original Post Falls store.
The chain’s North Idaho presence dates back to 1970, when the first Super 1 Foods store opened in Hayden. A second location followed in Coeur d’Alene in 1985, establishing the brand as a fixture in regional grocery retail.
Construction Timeline and Community Impact
Construction is expected to wrap up in late fall 2027, bringing new employment and retail competition to Post Falls during a period of sustained growth in the Panhandle. The timing aligns with broader demographic shifts in Kootenai County, as communities including Post Falls and Hayden continue to attract residents and expand residential and commercial development.
Local business expansion like the new Super 1 reflects confidence in the region’s economic trajectory, even as North Idaho’s demographic composition evolves and local governments explore new revenue sources to support infrastructure growth. The grocery sector remains central to community services, and the McIntires’ investment signals sustained retail activity in the Post Falls corridor.
What Comes Next
The Wednesday groundbreaking marks the official start of the project, with construction proceeding through 2027. Residents in Post Falls, Rathdrum, and surrounding areas of Kootenai County will see job openings and new retail capacity emerge from the development. The store’s emphasis on expanded specialty departments may also shift shopping patterns among households currently traveling to Coeur d’Alene or other nearby communities for specific grocery needs.