BELLINGHAM - Grocery store company WinCo has received permit approval from the city to remodel the former Joe's Sporting Goods building at 300 E. Bellis Fair Parkway.

The permit was issued Thursday, Jan. 31, and calls for a $7 million remodel of the building. The remodel also will create two additional tenant spaces, according to the permit.

A phone message left for WinCo spokesman Mike Read was not returned.

The Boise-based company has 18 grocery stores in Washington, including Marysville. The company made a bid to put in a store in the West Bakerview Road area near the Fred Meyer shopping center, but a request for a rezone of that area was rejected by the Bellingham City Council in 2008.

The former Joe's building has about 103,000 square feet of space. According to its website, a typical WinCo store size is around 94,000 square feet.

Reach DAVE GALLAGHER at dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2269.