A Tesco Express store and Subway sandwich shop will take shape in the coming months.
Completion is expected around August. The development will bring a much-needed jobs boost for the town, creating around 20 posts.
JB Black Construction, of Crosshill, is handling the site works and Linea Construction of Prestwick is doing the building.
Nicola Hendry, Learning Centre Manager at the Carrick Buildings, has been busy for months helping potential applicants improve their chances of getting hired, with 15 people completing the customer care course run by Ayr College.
She said: "We've already delivered customer care courses for interested unemployed people who would like to work in the retail industry. The course is applicable over a range of sectors, but with Tesco opening on our doorstep it seemed a great opportunity to deliver a course that would help people improve their employability.
"That fits very well with the government's agenda to get people back into work. And we've been working closely in partnership with Job Centre Plus to make sure their priority customers are referred to us."
A spokeswoman for Tesco - motto "Every Little Helps" - confirmed yesterday: "We are delighted to be opening a Tesco Express store in Girvan and hope it will be ready to welcome customers in August, later this year. We are looking forward to opening and hope that Tesco Express will become a key part of the local community."
But the Gazette has learned that the opening could be delayed until later in the autumn if additional time is needed to rectify any soil contamination at the site due to its former use. The new Asda store in Girvan suffered delays for similar reasons. The Tesco spokeswoman added: "Express stores are relatively small, typically around 3000 square feet, not with a full range but with a good range of fresh food.
"These stores are meant to be convenient, open from early in the morning till relatively late at night when people want to shop after work."
In the past, locals have expressed their fear of big companies like Asda and Tesco moving in and pushing out established small shops, particularly family businesses.
Tesco stressed they are keen to be a "good neighbour". The spokeswoman added: "Sometimes a new Express store does polarise local opinion.
"But these stores are meant to be complementary to other shops – they give people in communities a reason to stay in their neighbourhood and make use of other local businesses, rather than heading to big out-of-town stores."