By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

INVERNESS — A new Winn-Dixie store is slated to open in Inverness later this year, after the company recently finalized a 20-year lease for the old Bruno’s location at the Inverness Corners shopping center.

Sam Heide with Bayer Properties, who represents property landlord LaSalle Investment Management, said the 54,000-square-foot property will be “substantially” renovated.

“There will be major changes inside the store. It’ll be a brand-new store,” Heide said.

The parking lot will also be overlaid with a new surface, and outside lighting will be improved, he said.

Heide said he could not disclose the cost of the renovations.

Construction should begin in either late March or early April, and the store is slated to open in October of this year, he said.