The City of Georgetown is seeking bids on the former Albertsons grocery store building located at 610 N. Austin Ave. Sealed bids are due at 2 p.m. May 4.

Georgetown Economic Development Director Mark Thomas said the city would be interested in a specialty grocer or other big-box retailer that could take up the entire 56,331-square-foot building.

"There have been different kinds of retailers interested over time [in the building]," Thomas said. "A grocer [would be a good fit] only because the building lends itself to being a grocery store physically. It was designed to be a grocery store."

The building was purchased by the city in 2008 and is currently vacant. Built in 1996, the building is zoned C-3 general commercial.

"Seems to me that the market is coming back at some level, and we have had some individuals who have called with interest," Thomas said. "The only way we can respond as a city is to put it out to bid."

The minimum bid price for the property is $3,675,000. Bids will be reviewed by city staff, City Council members or others and evaluated on purchase price, proposed use and a proposed development schedule.

Individuals wanting to schedule and coordinate inspections, studies or assessments should contact Thomas at 930-3546 or [email protected].

Other questions about the bid or bidding process should go to the city's purchasing department at 930-3647 or [email protected].

The bid invitation and related documents are available on the city's website at www.purchasing.georgetown.org.