Schnucks Market Inc. has confirmed long-running rumors that it will open a downtown grocery store.

The store, expected to open in late 2008 or early 2009, will be on the ground floor of the Ninth Street Garage at Olive Street.

Although the store will be smaller than a typical Schnucks grocery, the 20,800 square foot space will contain a full service store that will include a pharmacy, fresh and specialty foods including natural and organics.

There also will be a floral shop, Kaldi’s Coffee bar, meat and seafood departments and prepared foods stations including a salad bar, Asian hot-food bar, barbecue bar, pizza station and made-to-order sandwiches.

There will be an overhead 6,303 square foot mezzanine holding a wine department with a tapas tasting area and seating space.