Shoppers rush to “soft opening” at Lincoln IGA
Official Grand Opening and ribbon cut to be March 16th

[March 09, 2022]   The long awaited day for local shoppers came on Monday, March 7th, when the Lincoln IGA opened its doors for the first time since June 11th, 2021. The store, owned by Charlie Lee was forced to close after an arson fire on June 11th. Since that time, the work to bring the store back to the community has been ongoing, but hindered somewhat by the coronavirus.

But on Monday, the store opened its doors for what it considered a soft opening. However, word had gotten out and the parking lot was filled with vehicles and the inside of the store with anxious customers who have missed the many fine offerings at the IGA.

Throughout the store, every isle had shoppers and at the deli there was a line of customers waiting for service.

Many of those customers were there for the fried chicken, a specialty of the IGA that has been missed by a lot of people over the last nine months.

Around the store, Charlie Lee and his right hand man Corey Sutton were all smiles as they enjoyed a reunion of sorts with many faithful customers stopping to congratulate the two on the re-opening and offering comments on how much the IGA has been missed.

Around the store, there is a fresh, clean appearance with many new fixtures, new paint, and new signage. But the layout is very familiar with very few things moved from where they have always been in the store.

Some isles are still a little sparse, but that is due in part to supply issues relating to the pandemic, and Lee, Sutton and staff are working to get items put out as soon as they arrive.

 

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At the check-out stations all four checkers on duty were busy. Some are familiar faces that said they were happy and excited about being back to work at IGA. There are also some new faces around the store, but those folks too are excited about seeing the doors open to the hometown favorite grocery once again.

While Monday was a soft opening, there is a grand opening celebration complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the works for next week.

The ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16th. That will also be the day of the grand opening and a new sales flier for the store. Be sure to mark your calendars and come out and celebrate with Lee, Sutton and the staff as they begin a new chapter in the life of the Lincoln IGA.

[Nila Smith]