Andover shoppers can now expect the anticipated Stop and Shop to open in Shawsheen Village in the springtime, both town officials and grocery store reps. confirmed this week.

Following recent discussions with town officials, the supermarket chain said they hope to open a store at the former Market Basket location on Route 28, 199 North Main Street, in the spring.

Stop and Shop representatives have already begun the process to obtain permits from the town in order to gut the large unit in Shawsheen Plaza and set up a new store. Health, building and fire officials will be working closely with grocery store builders during the process.

A spokesman from Stop and Shop said that the location in Andover will be a good fit for the Northeast-based supermarket.

"We believe this is a good location for our store and is complimentary to our other existing stores in the Merrimack Valley," said Suzi Robinson, a spokesman for Stop and Shop.

Nearby locations include 757 Turnpike Street (Rt. 114), North Andover, 90 Pleasant Valley St. (Rt. 113), Methuen and 265 Main Street (Rt. 28), North Reading.

Stop and Shop began speaking with Andover officials about the location roughly a year ago. They announced the decision to move after Market Basket's lease of the unit at 199 North Main Street expired this past July. However, Stop and Shop declined sharing information about their decision in picking the location.

"As our real estate strategy is confidential, we cannot share more specifics on the process or decisions around the location," said Robinson.

Town officials have already begun working with the supermarket's contractors and representatives to begin the demolition process and further necessary permitting. But officials are saying this is certainly a good vacancy to fill.

"I think people are excited," said Andover Town Manager Reginald "Buzz" Stapzcinski.

Because they are staying within the exsiting structure at Shawsheen Village Shopping Plaza, Stapczynski said that Stop and Shop will not need to go through any permitting process with the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals.

Building, health and fire officials are currently in the process of working with builders and grocery store representatives. Demolition of the interior of the unit is expected to begin within the next few weeks.

Among the many changes that require town approval, health officials must approve food service equipment and Stop and Shop will be required make many upgrades to the unit's fire safety system in order to comply with current fire codes.

The plaza is owned by Guys of Andover, LLC, based out of 600 Loring Ave., Salem, MA.