Rumors about Earth Fare moving into the former Borders store on Royalton Road have been confirmed.

Kristi Kanzig, assistant director of marketing for the Asheville, N.C.-based chain, said the company has just signed a lease for the site.

Kanzig said it is too early to speculate on when Earth Fare, which bills itself as a "healthy supermarket," might open.

She said the stores typically employ 70 to 90 full- and half-time workers.

Earth Fare operates 28 stores in eight states -- including Fairview Park and Fairlawn -- and offers natural foods like local and organic fruits and vegetables. The store also has a full-service meat, poultry and fish department.

It does not carry any items containing high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, artificial colors and sweeteners, or synthetic growth hormones in meat and milk.

The confirmation comes after months of speculation that the company was negotiating for the former Borders site.

The company said earlier this year it was interested in coming to Strongsville, but did not specify where.

Rumors swirled around the vacant Borders store, with many saying they had heard Earth Fare was moving in, and others saying they heard it would be a Trader Joe's.

Economic Development Director Brent Painter said in January that a new tenant was eyeing the Borders site and said the plaza's real estate agent was in lease negotiations at that time.

Borders closed last September after the company declared bankruptcy and liquidated its assets.