Just one more day until store opens
By John Joyce
Published in News on July 30, 2013 1:46 PM
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Law enforcement officials are preparing for what is expected to be a very busy grand opening day for the city's newest grocery store, Harris Teeter, on Wednesday.
It started as a rumor -- whispers in the community that a new grocery store was coming to Goldsboro.
But the buzz reached a fever pitch when, after years of speculation, Harris Teeter announced it would, indeed, be opening a Wayne County location.
So when the 53,000-square-foot store opens Wednesday morning on Wayne Memorial Drive, it will likely draw quite a crowd.
Harris Teeter officials believe so, anyway.
The Goldsboro Police Department has allowed the store to hire two off-duty officers to assist with traffic flow and parking during the first three days of the store's grand opening.
The officers will be posted in the store parking area from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Maj. Mike West of the Goldsboro Police Department's traffic division said no traffic lights will be interrupted at or near 2120 Wayne Memorial Drive.
"The officers will be there to assist with vehicles coming out of the parking lot only," West said.
And only if the parking lot becomes full and if traffic really gets backed up will the officers step into the intersection and assume control of the flow of traffic, he added.
Commuters should plan for an excessive amount of traffic on and around Wayne Memorial Drive for the next several days.
"We're going to try to do it as smoothly as possible, but drivers should plan ahead," West said.
News intern Ethan Smith contributed to this report.