In a joint effort with the Goosefoot Community Fund, this summer The Myers Group will open a new grocery store in the 21,000-square-foot space recently vacated by Casey’s Red Apple market.

President Tyler Myers’ family owned and operated the market from 1978 to 1999. Since then, though the family-run operation has expanded to the mainland, its corporate offices remain in Clinton.

Myers, an alumni of the Langley High School Class of 1980, said the store will feature a deli, bakery and cafe seating area. The produce department will be expanded with a wide selection of organic and locally-grown items.

The business model is highly unusual. Goosefoot will provide $2 million to finance all building renovations, store inventory and daily operating expenses, said Goosefoot chief executive officer Chis Hurley.

A new corporation will be formed between Goosefoot and the Myers Group; essentially, Myers is being hired by the nonprofit to run the store and all money accrued will be folded back into financing other projects, such as affordable housing.

The Myers Group currently owns and operates markets on Camano Island, and in Ocean Shores, Snoqualmie and downtown Seattle. Myers said each is tailored to its specific location.

“Each store and its customers are different,” Myers said. “I know what’s missing here on South Whidbey and we have a strategy that will work here.”

He added that the goals are to build a better shopping center that concentrates on value and provide a strong anchor for the other businesses at the site.

“How we conduct our business dovetails perfectly with Goosefoot’s mission to create a sense of place and community,” he said.