CAMBRIDGE – The Cambridge Planning Commission unanimously approved Phase II of Cambridge Marketplace, the prominent Route 50 location presented by Fairchild Properties last night. The plans include a 36,000-square foot Lidl grocery store, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks and a new Taco Bell.

Lidl, one of the world’s largest retailers, operates approximately 10,000 stores in 27 countries throughout Europe and is launching a major U.S. expansion, beginning in Maryland and Virginia. Its stores offer customers the highest quality fresh produce, meat, bakery items, and a wide array of household products at the lowest possible prices.

“Cambridge Marketplace has arrived!” said Charlie Fairchild. “A new grocery store, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, Taco Bell, a new medical facility and more retailers. This means jobs, jobs and more jobs. This is what we needed. We’ve been working on this project since July 2015. We appreciate the support of the City of Cambridge, the county and state. Above all, we thank our new tenants and welcome them to Cambridge!”

The announcement of Lidl, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and a new Taco Bell triggers Phase II of a $20 million-dollar project to renovate the 24-acre site. Phase I included improvements to the retail spaces with façade updates, which began last month. Those improvements will be followed by construction of the new entrance and demolishing sections of the existing retail. Phase II introduces the construction of new pad sites along Route 50, including the new Lidl grocery store. Cambridge Marketplace was also recently announced as the proposed site for the eventual relocation of University of Maryland – Shore Regional Health at Cambridge.

 “There’s been a lot of excitement about this project, but now we’re all starting to see the opportunities,” said Brandon Hesson, the associate director of Economic Development for the City of Cambridge. “That grocery store is a key location, highly visible, which has sat vacant for years, and now we’re seeing it turn into jobs for people in our community.”