If all the pieces fall into place, Ironton residents may once again be able to shop at a Foodland in the city.

Though nothing is set in stone, negotiations are in the works to bring the grocery store chain back to a familiar location in Ironton - the former Tipton's building at 320 Jefferson St.

"We have had some interest in reopening that building as a grocery store," Economic Development Director Matt Ward said. "Nothing is 100 percent final yet. The goal is to get interested parties in agreement and get that building reopened as soon as possible."

If the development plan works out, it could ideally bring back nearly 50 jobs to downtown, Ward said.

Bob Craycraft, a commercial real estate associate with Century 21 Brooks Wells Enterprises in Ashland, Ky., said that he has been working on this deal since July.

Craycraft said he remains in negotiations with SuperValue, which owns the Foodland name, Tipton Brothers Bakery Inc., which owns the building, and a prospective client to make this a reality.

Though he had hoped to finalize the deal last week, some details still need to be ironed out, he said.

"It takes a combination of factors between the buyer, seller and SuperValue to make this work," Craycraft said. "We have been working on this portion for about two months."

Realizing that this is something that is "desperately needed" in the Ironton community, he said he hopes that an official announcement can come in the near future.

Ward and City Engineer Phil Biggs have worked hard to help them put this deal together and also on two other development projects that are still in the works, Craycraft said.