Moncton's Les Filles de Jésus convent may be converted into a new Sobey's grocery store with the goal of luring more businesses to the city's northeast corner.

Les Filles de Jésus convent has been located in the building on Elmwood Drive since 1958 but it has been sold to the Maritime grocery giant to allow for new development to be located in the area.

A Sobey's spokesperson has refused to comment about the sale of the convent.

However, an application has been made to change the zoning of the eight-hectare piece of land, which houses the convent, to allow for commercial development.

No one representing the convent commented on the potential sale.

In a newsletter, the Moncton archdiocese said the facility will be closed and the nuns who live in the convent are being transfering to the Shannex residence in Riverview

Eric Pelletier, the manager of investment attraction at Enterprise Greater Moncton, said Sobey's is already building another store in neighbouring Riverview and he expects retail stores will probably open up next to the new grocery stores.

"In Riverview we're seeing a new Sobey's store going there with probably some new retail going up in the near future as well," Pelletier said.

"You see the growth, anywhere you have population growth, you'll see retail, you'll see groceries and most of the retail developers or the chains they want to be close to a grocery store."