GREENSBURG, Kansas -- Construction began late last week for an expansion of a hybrid convenience store/grocery store in Greensburg, Kansas, by Dillons Food Stores Inc. and Kwik Shop Inc. A tornado destroyed most of the town, including the old Dillons grocery store and old Kwik Shop c-store in May 2007.
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The partnership of Dillons and Kwik Shop, both owned by The Kroger Co. and both based in Hutchinson, Kansas, enables the companies to begin offering expanded food choices for Greensburg residents. The project will almost triple the size of the existing location to about 8,000 square feet. Construction is expected to be finished early next year.
"It is encouraging to see progress and growth as Greensburg rebuilds, and we are humbled to be a part of the journey," John Bays, president of Dillons Stores, told The Wichita Business Journal. "Greensburg and Kiowa County residents have supported Dillons and Kwik Shop for over 70 years and we are pleased to continue this replacement."
Described by vice president of c-store buildings Mike Hoffmann as a "prototype," the hybrid convenience/grocery store will, "offer Greensburg and local shoppers the best of both worlds. They'll have both immediate consumption itemsconvenience store fare such as snacks and fountain drinksand the take-home items of a supermarket in one building," he told The Pratt Tribune in a separate report.
The new store will sell food and other items traditionally found in a Dillons grocery store and will retain many of the conveniences Kwik Shop currently offers, including a fuel center. Customers will be able to meet their daily shopping needs as the store will have a selection of fresh produce, fresh meat, dairy, frozen foods and household items at prices customers find at other Dillons stores. Customers will be able to use their Dillons Plus card for loyalty rewards.The hybrid store is being built to include a number of green measures, such as energy efficient lighting and skylight coverage, the report added.Cincinnati-based Kroger has 2,486 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two-dozen local banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, Dillons, QFC and City Market. It also operates 782 convenience stores and 720 supermarket fuel centers. The company's c-stores are in 16 states: Loaf 'N Jug in Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming; Turkey Hill Minit Markets in Pennsylvania; Tom Thumb Food Stores in Florida and Alabama; Kwik Shop in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska; and Quik Stop Markets in California and Nevada.
Dillons operates 104 stores in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.Photo courtesy of "The Lope."Click here for more photos. Also click here.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.