In a long anticipated move, Kinney Drugs Inc. will relocate its Washington Street Plaza store to the former Coca-Cola Distribution Center, the company said in a press release Wednesday evening.

The new location, at 1304 Washington St., will be a 11,300-square-foot free-standing store. Construction will begin in mid-September with a grand opening in early 2009.

A call to Kinney's Marketing Relations Manager Penny Perrone-Gray was not returned Thursday.

Kinney currently has four Watertown locations: 1328 Washington St., 1729 State St., 905 Coffeen St. and 22056 Route 11.

The company purchased the Washington Street property in 2006 from Karl F. McGrann and Mark S. Purcell. Kinney sold the parcel to a developer for $1 million in August.

With Jefferson Dental Health P.C. in the process of moving out this week, the only remaining tenant is the China House restaurant. Pizza Hut and the Mustard Seed, a natural-foods store, were former tenants.

According to the press release, the new Kinney store on Washington Street will be designed to provide more convenient parking and a broader range of products and services.

The new store will also feature a pharmacy drive-through, a consultation area and a waiting area. The sections for Hallmark greeting cards, health care products, cosmetic lines and groceries will also be expanded.

"We are excited to bring this new store to Watertown which has been a Kinney Drugs core market for many, many years," Craig C. Painter, chief executive officer of Kinney Drugs, said in the press release. "As an employee owned company, we look forward to providing a level of service that is second to none to our friends, neighbors and all the residents of Watertown."