By Isaac Bonnell

WinCo Foods, a Boise, Idaho-based discount supermarket company, is considering moving into the former Joe’s Sports space off of Meridian Street.

The company has not yet applied for permits, but is in the design review process for changes to the 90,000-square-foot building’s facade and parking lot, according to city planning staff.

WinCo Foods spokesperson Mike Read said there isn’t a concrete plan yet, but it is in the works.

“We’re certainly interested in that market,” Read said.

WinCo Foods was previously rumored to be a part of a proposed development on West Bakerview Road, across from Fred Meyer. In 2007, Boise-based White-Leasure Development applied to the city to rezone 10 acres of land in that area from “planned industrial” to “planned commercial/industrial” and included a large grocery store in its plans. The rezone request was eventually rejected in 2008.

The plan came back before the Bellingham City Council in February of this year, but this time by the landowner Janis Barsetti Gray. The plans did not include a large grocery store and council voted to consider rezoning the property.

Founded in 1967, WinCo Foods has 71 stores throughout the West Coast. It opened a new store in Vancouver, Wash. on March 1 and recently purchased more than 9 acres of land for a development in Union Gap, Wash. near Yakima.