Walgreens and Scarborough business and town officials broke ground for the drug-store chain’s newest Maine store during a damp ceremony on Friday afternoon.

Town officials welcomed the Walgreens to the Oak Hill Plaza, saying it will add a nice component to the area and complement the existing businesses.

“It’s pretty exciting. It’s great for the town,” Scarborough Town Councilor Carol Rancourt said. “This corner has been pretty sad for a pretty long time.”

The new Walgreens will be at the corner of routes 1 and 114 where the vacant Burger King and Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution buildings used to be. Construction crews leveled those buildings earlier this month.

The new structure, which will be about 20,000 square feet, will include a grocery store, pharmacy and photo station.

“I think this shows a lot of confidence in Scarborough. Obviously, with the economy, new construction is great,” said Harvey Rosenfeld, executive director of the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation, as he waited for the groundbreaking to begin. “Also, we have a new building on one end of Oak Hill and another one at this end, which is a positive sign for Scarborough.”

Saco & Biddeford Savings moved late last year to the other end of Oak Hill.

Based in Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens has 6,941 locations in 49 states. The Scarborough location marks the company’s seventh location in Maine. It plans to expand to 15 next year, said Greg Paramantgis, Walgreens district manager.

The company had two Maine stores at this time last year, Paramantgis said.

“This is a great time for Walgreens,” he said. “We’re really excited that the town has asked us to come and be part of the groundbreaking ceremony and we couldn’t be happier to be in the community.”

Paramantgis said Walgreens chose to build in Scarborough because of the town’s history of commercial development and because Scarborough residents need the store’s services.

“Obviously the rich history and future developments coming forward with the town has made a nice corner for us,” he said. “The surrounding areas make us feel there is a need for a business and for continued growth.”

The Scarborough Planning Board approved the project in February. Approval had been expected in December, but engineers and planners working on the project gave the board a long list of changes they required to address the board’s concerns from an October meeting.

Walgreens will bring 20 new jobs and the company’s plans call for building green space over a driving aisle on the Route 1 side, preventing cars from backing into that aisle. Plans also call for adding 50 new parking spots and sharing 20 more with existing businesses.

In addition, the new Walgreens will spruce up that end of Oak Hill Plaza, said Steven Berg, one of the plaza’s owners. The Burger King was vacant for nearly three years, and that, together with the bank’s recent relocation, left a hole near a busy section of town, he said.

“It’s a good mix for all the tenants here,” he said. “We feel it is a convenience for Scarborough residents and I think it benefits the town because it will create new jobs both in construction and for the store.”

Including Walgreens, there are 61 businesses and offices located in Oak Hill Plaza, Berg said.

Walgreens and Scarborough business and town officials broke ground for the drug-store chain during an at times wet ceremony on Friday afternoon. Town officials welcomed the Walgreens to the Oakhill Plaza, saying it will add a nice component to the area and compliment the existing businesses. uildings were. Construction crews leveled those buildings earlier this month. The new structure, which will be about 20,000 square feet, will include a grocery store, pharmacy and a photo station. ion is great,vings moved its location late last year to the other end of Oak Hill. Based in Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens is one of the country said Greg Paramantgis, Walgreens district manager. The company had two Maine stores at this time last year, Paramantgis said. happier to be in the community. made a nice corner for us, board a long list of changes they made to address the boardng 50 new parking spots and sharing 20 more with existing businesses. In addition, the new Walgreens will spruce up that end of Oak Hill Plaza, said Steven Berg, one of the owners of Oak Hill Plaza. The Burger King was vacant for nearly three years, and with the bank recently relocating, it left a hole near a busy section of town, he said. are 61 businesses and offices located in Oak Hill Plaza, Berg said. From left to right, Oak Hill Plaza owners Steven Berg and Gavin Ruotolo, William Mann of Androscoggin Bank, Scarborough Town Councilor Carol Rancourt, Scarborough Town Manager Tom Hall, GP Scarborough developer Paul Feinberg, and Walgreens representatives Greg Paramantgis and Cynthia Velez, break ground Friday for the new Walgreens coming to Oak Hill Plaza.