A 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace opened in East Montgomery County Wednesday. It is located at the intersection of Hwy. 59 and the Grand Parkway The grocery store is situated within the Valley Ranch Town Center, a master-planned development just north of Kingwood, which includes 1.5 million square feet of retail, dining, hospitality, entertainment and civic venues. The Kroger features Texas grown fruits and vegetables, clothes, wine, craft beer, home goods and decor and a pharmacy. In addition, it also has a gas station, Murray's Cheese and Starbucks. "This development is a boon to the economy of our community, and our residents are very receptive and excited to have new places to shop, dine and be entertained,"said Frank McCrady, President of the East Montgomery County Improvement District. "We have waited a long time for stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues of this caliber.” The Valley Ranch Town Center will have more than 85 local and national retailers at build-out. Opened stores include Academy Sports + Outdoors, Sam’s Club, Party City, Hobby Lobby, Panda Express, Sally Beauty, SportClips, Supercuts and Subway.