Supermarket shoppers have been limited in their choices to two grocers, Safeway and Fry’s Food, for the past year.

Those options expanded when Bashas’, the anchor store in Fountain Hills Plaza, reopened after an 11-month reconstruction project.

The revitalized retail center on the southwest corner of Palisades Boulevard and La Montana Drive sports a contemporary prototype design for Bashas’ stores, refreshed Spanish architecture, new signage and canopy shading over 100 parking spaces.

The Pederson Group, developers known for renovating shopping centers in the Greater Phoenix market, purchased the 113,500-square-foot center from California owners. The cost for acquisition, expanding the footprint to more than 124,000 square feet and refurbishing exceeded $23 million.

For Bashas’, it was the unveiling of its third and most modern version of its supermarkets. Bashas’ was the first major grocer in 1974 to locate a store in Fountain Hills. The Arizona family-owned grocery chain grew along with the population. Bashas’ moved to a larger location on Palisades in 1986. That 21-year-old store closed and was demolished in April 2008 and rebuilt from the ground up. The new store spans nearly 50,000 square feet.

New features are a customer lounge with a 42-inch flat screen television and free Wi-Fi access, Italian kitchen where chef-prepared entrees and fresh pizza can be purchased, an adjacent gelato bar, outdoor patio and full-service United Drug Pharmacy.

Cub House, a free, supervised play center equipped with a Sony Playstation, board games and arts and crafts activities, allows parents to leave their children between the ages of two and 10 while they shop.

Larger produce department, meat and seafood counter; full-service deli and wine/liquor/beer section cater to every shopper’s needs.

The new store employs about 100 cashiers, courtesy clerks, managers and other Bashas’ staffers. Ken Fett, a Fountain Hills resident, is the store manager. Store hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Originally constructed in 1986, Fountain Hills Plaza has provided a diverse mix of retail tenants for more than 20 years. The center is also home to LeBaron Cleaners, Radio Shack, Pony Express, Fountain Hills Dental Care,  American Family Insurance, Instant Imprints, Cheryl’s of Fountain Hills,  Fountain Hills Medical Clinic, Kay Kinder’s Fountain Fashions, Touche Hair Design, R&R Nails and Flapjacks, a breakfast and lunch restaurant. With the exception of Bashas’, businesses remained open during the construction project.

Fore Peaks Realty and Sales Group is a new real estate firm to move into the center. Great Clips hair salon has signed a lease and is expected to open soon.

Paul’s ACE Hardware expanded from 16,800 square feet to 22,800 square feet. A rear entrance primarily for Paul’s ACE Hardware builders and remodeling contractors provides convenient access. A service department devoted to the rental of an assortment of heavy-duty construction equipment, such as jackhammers, paint sprayers and ladders, has been created.

Owner Julie Buchowski is the granddaughter of the founder Paul Dauwalder. He originally opened a Fountain Hills store in 1973. The store moved to its present location in June 1998.