(MURFREESBORO)  Reports indicate that the real estate of the Heart of Tennessee's last independent full-service grocery store has been purchased by St. Paul's Episcopal Church. However, offiials say that nothing will change--Jr's Foodland will remain in business and the church will simply become the landlord. 

Rev. Kristine Blaess told Bill Wilson, a local realtor who is on WGNS Sunday evenings at 9:00PM,  "To our church, this property is much more than a building or a space for future parking. This is a family business which employs our town’s residents and provides our neighbors with access to fresh foods. We at St. Paul’s are humbled and delighted to serve our brothers and sisters in our community as we seek to grow God’s kingdom in downtown Murfreesboro."

The downtown East Main Street church is land-locked, and the leaders of St. Paul's Episcopal reportedly saw it as an opportunity for future growth, while at the same time keeping a locally owned business in which the community depends alive and vibrant.

Again,  St. Paul's Episcopal Church has purchased the real estate on which Jr's Foodland is located. However, no changes are planned, as the church will lease the property to the grocery and simply become their landlord.