By Tim Engstrom and Jason Schoonover, Albert Lea Tribune

An Austin business owner may be stepping up to keep an Albert Lea grocery store open.

Jim Baldus, owner of Jim’s MarketPlace at 301 11th St. NE in Austin, confirmed he’s in negotiations to lease Nelson’s Market Place in Albert Lea, which is set to close May 17.

“Plans are moving ahead,” said Baldus, who declined to offer any other details as negotiations are ongoing.

Nelson’s Market Place co-owner Chris Nelson said he and his cousin, co-owner Jay Nelson, are in discussions with Baldus.

He said one meeting was Tuesday. There have been no documents signed, but he added, “We are working well together.”

Earlier this month, Nelson’s owners announced plans to close the store at 1619 W. Main St. in Albert Lea.

Nelson’s is the largest grocery store in Albert Lea by square footage at 55,000 square feet, and Nelson cited decreasing sales as the reason for closing. He said it is too large of a store to compete with Hy-Vee and Walmart.

About 80 people work at Nelson’s, 50 of them part time.