Ambassadors visited Fareway Stores Grinnell today to learn more about the store and their recent remodel. Grocery manager Ben Hall welcomed the group and shared more about the work that has taken place over the last six months. While the work itself began last October, their team has been busy planning for a couple years. Fareway has an internal construction team which helps individual stores plan their remodels, and they’re chosen based on a variety of factors including age of store, location, and foot traffic.
Grinnell’s Fareway store has been in its current location since 2007 (we were just as surprised as some of you!), and it was time for some updates. Notable changes included updates to the current refrigeration units, eliminating the old and inefficient ‘pizza bunkers’. The remodel greatly improved lighting throughout the entire store, something Hall noted many customers have found appealing. Finally, they removed the ‘L’ that previously closed off the produce selection from the grocery, creating significantly more open space and moving the liquor to a designated aisle.
The remodel has also allowed them to bring in a variety of new products. Staff have a catalog of items from which they can order; however, previous space constraints did not allow them to carry as many products. Since the remodel, they have added several hundred products, and are always looking at ways they can carry additional items to meet the needs of Grinnell-area residents.
Hall referenced many changes in the grocery industry over the past few years which included: addition of Fast Lanes that were implemented last fall, online shopping and curbside pickup options and new building signage. Locally, Fareway employs over 80 individuals, as young as 14 years old. You can shop Grinnell Fareway from 8AM-9PM Monday through Saturday.
Pictured L-R: Monica St. Angelo - Grinnell Area Arts Council, Charlie Isaacs - Theisen's, Rachel Hansen - Cleanfoodfix LLC, Trent Arment - MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Hannah Vos - UnityPoint at Home, Donna Fischer - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Ben Hall - Fareway Stores Grinnell, Matt Moyer - Bayer Crop Science, Bri Vande Stouwe - Community 1st Credit Union, Fran Conn, Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections
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