Big Y workers were busy stocking shelves, cutting flowers and baking treats Wednesday in preparation for the grand opening of two area stores.
The Springfield, Mass.-based chain is opening two new World Class Markets Thursday morning in Derby and in Milford.
“We are super-excited, and the community has been very receptive,” said Bob Rainville, store director at the new Derby store, at 656 New Haven Ave. on Wednesday morning. “Customers have been coming to the doors and looking in. It is a great opportunity and an excellent location.”
The new Milford location is at 150 Boston Post Road. The chain will be celebrating the opening of the two stores on Thursday with special activities. There will be a cake-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. in Milford and 1 p.m. in Derby. State and community officials are expected to attend.
Rainville said the Derby store also plans to offer food samples for customers, a Green Giant mascot, and starting at 11 a.m., face painting and cookie decorating for kids. Area veterans are scheduled to raise a flag in a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Rainville has been with the company for more than 31 years. According to Rainville, the new stores feature a larger variety of offerings and an emphasis on local products.
On Wednesday, he pointed out cookies made in Milford, flowers grown in Cheshire, soaps made in Harwinton, nut mixes from Orange, and beer from regional distributors, for example. They also carry pies from Lyman Orchards.
Construction began on the 55,060-square-foot Milford and 59,502-square-foot Derby market in January.
The chain decided to close its Ansonia market, and employees there were able to transfer to the new stores or others within the chain. Roughly 225 employees have been hired, according to Big Y.
“Everyone in Ansonia was able to keep their jobs, which is great,” Rainville said.
Joseph Fetcho, who has been with Big Y since 1996, is store director of the Milford store.
Both stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Charles L. D’Amour, Big Y’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement, “All of us at Big Y are excited to offer these communities a brand-new shopping experience and a new option for their grocery and lifestyle needs.”
“We know that our customers will appreciate the selection and quality of our fresh and local foods and the variety and value that our new stores have to offer,” he said.
Both markets have eat-in cafés serving an array of items such as pizza, hot soup and made-to-order sandwiches.
The new stores also feature EV charging stations in the parking lots and six self-scan registers.
Big Y Foods will donate $1,000 to the Connecticut Food Bank as part of its grand opening celebration.
The chain is among the largest independently owned supermarkets in New England, with some 12,000 employees. Brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour founded the store back in 1936, naming it after an intersection in Chicopee, Mass. where two roads converge to form a “Y.”
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com
