NOTE: As of May, 2018 Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen still intends to move into the addition at the former Zellers store. Popeye's Supplements, an unrelated business, has already moved into the existing space

A large addition will be built at the former Zellers store on Bell Boulevard in Belleville.

The city's Chief Building Official, Ted Marecak, said a building permit for a 9,400 square foot structure, worth $1.55-million was approved last month.

The company that operates the building plans to make it available for retail space.

A new Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen restaurant, valued at $323,000  is also going to be built nearby, at 181 Bell Boulevard.

Marecak says a total of 71 permits for projects worth $9.25-million was approved in July, down from $11.5-million in construction work in the same month last year.

There has been just over $67-million in building activity in Belleville so far this year, about $4-million less than at this time in 2016.