VIDALIA — Construction began this week on a 15,000-square-foot addition to the Vidalia Shopping Center on Carter Street.

The strip mall will cost nearly $1 million and bring the shopping center’s total area to nearly 70,000 square feet, Vidalia Center LLC co-owner Jimmy Smith said.

The construction will include repaving the shopping center’s parking lot.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said the strip mall is the latest in a series of positive announcements for the city.

“Vidalia is on the brink of what we have been trying to tell everybody,” Copleand said. “New business in Vidalia will not only help in Vidalia, but the whole Miss-Lou region. It will bring in more people and more jobs.”

The strip mall will be situated between the Vidalia Market and Vidalia Total Fitness.

The addition’s first tenant will be Johnny’s Pizza House. Since opening in 1967 in Monroe, La., Johnny’s Pizza has expanded into the largest locally owned pizza chain in North Louisiana. It will occupy a space adjacent to the Vidalia Market.

After Johnny’s Pizza moves in, Smith said the Vidalia Shopping Center would have approximately 8,000 feet remaining for businesses to rent.

The empty space may fill up quickly, he said.

“We have Johnny’s Pizza for sure and are talking to a couple other tenants that are interested,” Smith said. “We won’t have too much more available to lease.”