Busch’s Fresh Food Market, a locally owned supermarket chain, has announced plans to open a new 54,000-square-foot store in Canton, according to a news release from the company.

The store, which will anchor the shopping plaza at 225 S. Canton Center Road, is expected to open by summer 2013 and will employ about 100 full- and part-time associates, the news release said. The Canton location will mark the 16^th Busch’s supermarket in Michigan.

“We’ve wanted to bring Busch’s to the Canton community for several years, and finally the timing and opportunity are right,” CEO John Busch said in the news release. “We look forward to serving our new neighbors in this wonderfully diverse and family-friendly community with the finest quality products and personal service every shopper deserves.”

Busch’s real estate entity purchased the Canton location building and the accompanying multi-tenant building. According to the news release, Busch’s was assisted in completing the transaction through support from Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy, and Terry Bixler of ROC Real Estate.

In addition to Canton, Busch’s other locations throughout southeastern Michigan include a store in neighboring Plymouth, as well as markets in Ann Arbor, Carleton, Clinton, Dexter, Farmington Hills, Livonia, Novi, Pinckney, Rochester Hills, Saline, South Lyon, Tecumseh and West Bloomfield.

Stay tuned with Plymouth-Canton Patch as this story develops.