Leaders of the St. Louis-based Schnucks grocery store chain on Thursday announced the purchase of Market Place in Columbia.

The grocery store, located at 1000 Columbia Centre, was a Koppeis family enterprise.

“Over the next few days, the Schnucks human resources team will to speak to all 70 employees about employment opportunities with Schnucks,” Schnucks issued in a news release.

Market Place will close at noon on Sunday, Jan. 12, and will reopen as a Schnucks store on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 9 a.m.

Schnucks is buying the grocery store and attached Commerce Bank space.  The sale does not include the land or other properties at Columbia Centre.

Koppeis, who built the approximately 47,000-square-foot facility (including the bank space) in 1989, says the decision to sell is in the best interest of his family and employees.

“After 25 years of serving our community, it’s time to sell and give our employees career growth opportunities with a company like Schnucks.  My wife and I will turn our attentions to our other commercial real estate enterprises and we will remain landlords to the new Schnucks store,” he said.

Schnucks Chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck said “The Market Place will be a great location for us in that we will be able to serve new customers and operate in close partnership with Schnucks Waterloo just under eight miles away.  We respect the Koppeis family who, like Schnucks, are a family enterprise and share our sense of community.”