ALEXANDRIA BAY — The new Price Chopper under construction near Interstate 81 is set to open at the end of April as a 24-hour grocery store.

Price Chopper Supermarkets CEO Jerel T. “Jerry” Golub said the new store on Route 12 in the town of Alexandria — the company’s third supermarket in Jefferson County — will be smaller than Watertown’s at 31,000 square feet but will be the first Price Chopper of its kind.

“We are extremely excited to be in Alexandria Bay,” Mr. Golub said at a groundbreaking ceremony Friday.

Unlike other Price Choppers, he said, the Alexandria store will have an additional 2,500 square-foot covered deck outdoors set up like a farmers’ market for seasonal products to meet the needs of summer residents and tourists.

Because of size restrictions, the new store will have slightly smaller meat, seafood and florist departments compared to the Watertown Price Chopper on Arsenal Street. But it will have all the essentials, such as a wide selection of produce, in-store bakery and full-service deli shop, Mr. Golub said.

Around 130 employees — mostly part-time but also several full-time workers — will be needed to run the Alexandria store, he said.

William Sweet, vice president of construction and engineering at Price Chopper, said the company is hoping to achieve a silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for its energy-efficient Alexandria store.

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, lauded the development Friday saying she believes the new Price Chopper will not only help the St. Lawrence River community extend its business season but also encourage further development along the Route 12 corridor.

Price Chopper also plans to hold a fundraiser to benefit three local nonprofits on the eve of the new store’s grand opening and will be seeking applications.

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