Rhodes is preparing to transform its vacant former convenience store at 1610 N. Kingshighway into a 52-foot-tall complex with more than 38,000 square feet of retail and office space.

"We're very excited. We're very committed to this end of town," said Jeff Maurer, managing member of JJP Investments. "It's a premium piece of real estate on a great stretch of road; in fact, we'll probably occupy a suite ourselves."

Excavation is set to begin on the site in the next two weeks and construction will get underway this summer.

Maurer said he envisions the ground level holding a fast-casual restaurant in the mode of Panera Bread and upscale retail destinations.

Rhodes has its corporate offices at 1620 N. Kingshighway and opened a Rhodes 101 Stop at 1624 N. Kingshighway in 2005. Maurer indicated some of the Rhodes corporate offices would look to move to the new building.

Initial drawings of the building call for a stone exterior with tower entrances at the front and rear. The building will have a pitched roof similar to the Auburn Park Place building at 3065 William St.

It will also be the tallest structure on Kingshighway north of Regions Bank at 407 N. Kingshighway.

Maurer hopes the height will be an advantage.

"The early idea was for this to be a landmark building on the north end of town," Maurer said. "People would be in a building that when it's referred to by name you know exactly where it is."

Some commissioners on the Planning and Zoning board, though, did not feel the height was warranted. Two commissioners voted against issuing the special-use permit needed to rezone the plot to C-2, general commercial district. They were concerned by the height and were hesitant to engage in "spot zoning."

The final vote was 6-2 in favor of the request with two abstentions.

Maurer said almost all of the plots on Kingshighway between Broadway and Lexington Avenue are zoned C-2.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245