New Food Lion is ready to open
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on July 26, 2006 1:47 PM
Goldsboro's newest Food Lion grocery store opens next week in the Wayne Plaza Shopping Center on East Ash Street.
Food Lion, which operates more than 1,200 stores across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, has seven stores in Wayne County, more than any other grocery chain. They are located from Pikeville to Mount Olive.
The new 28,000-square-foot store will hold its grand opening at 8 a.m. Aug. 2.
The Ash Street Food Lion will replace the Spence Avenue Food Lion, which will officially close Tuesday. Spence Avenue Food Lion store manager Sam McNeil and about 15 full-time and 40 part-time workers will move to the new location.
McNeil has been with Food Lion 18 years.
"They've been mighty good to me," he said. "I am tickled to death. It's a beautiful store, and this side of town deserves a good store."
McNeil has managed the Spence Avenue store about nine months, in preparation for the move. Five years ago, he opened the Food Lion on N.C. 111, and he said he is looking forward to opening the new facility on Ash.
The new store will have a large produce department, full-service deli and bakery, special order cakes and specialty meats, cheeses and breads. The meat department will be large, too, featuring Butcher's Brand meats and seafood. The store also will carry international and specialty items, greeting cards and fresh cut flowers. Other features will include Western Union service, carpet cleaners, a propane tank exchange, postage stamps, the state lottery and a Coinstar machine.
Company officials say overall the new store will offer more than 28,000 different products, one for every square foot of space.
Hours of operation will be 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.
At the grand opening, there will be displays by the city police and fire departments, plus numerous prize and gift-card giveaways, free samples and appearances by the Pillsbury Doughboy and Honey Nut Cheerios Honey Bee characters.