NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk City Council has officially paved the way for a new Target store to be developed off East Little Creek Road in Wards Corner.

City Council voted Tuesday to sign off on plans that would allow for a 125,000-square-foot retail store at 201 and 217 E. Little Creek Road, near I-64. It would replace the long-vacant former Kroger and Ames Department Stores currently on the site.

While Target has not confirmed they will be opening up a second Norfolk store, several sources, not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, confirm the retailer is the intended end-user. The name Target does appear in the fine print of two planning documents submitted to the city.

Target’s existing location in Norfolk is off Military Highway near the old Military Circle Mall.

“We are continually evaluating potential store locations to serve new guests, but I don’t have any new-store news to share at this time,” Loni Monroe, a spokesperson for Target, said.

The plans for the store first appeared in front of Norfolk City Council in August. Virginia Beach-based Kotarides Companies, the property owner, asked for the vote to be continued several times, as changes to the plans were made.

“Ultimately, the size of the building was scaled down by several thousand square feet,” said Peter Kotarides, manager of the Kotarides Companies. “We are excited to move forward with this project and hope to have more to share soon.”

Kotarides said demolition of the former box stores, as well as the former Old Virginia Ham Shop, could begin by the fall.

CORRECTION: The original version of this story incorrectly stated that documents submitted to Norfolk identified Target as the end-user. WAVY has updated this story and regrets the error.