Ribbon-cutting marks MARTIN'S opening
A little bit of rain didn't keep Greencastle residents from gathering Friday morning at 500 N. Antrim Way for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new MARTIN'S Food Market.
Jim Bishop, store manager, and his team of associates were joined by community leaders at the ceremony. As part of the festivities, the first 100 customers in line received a MARTIN'S reusable shopping bag, a six pack of English muffins and other grand-opening savings.
“Having had a presence in neighboring communities, we are excited to introduce MARTIN'S to Greencastle,” said Bishop. “Our associates have been working hard to bring the new store to life for our customers with plenty of new products and expanded variety throughout every department.”
The approximately 35,000-square-foot store is located at the former Shop ‘n Save location acquired by GIANT Food Stores, which also operates MARTIN'S Food Markets, late last year.
Myra and Billy Eckstine of Greencastle were among the first customers inside the new grocery store.
"We used to shop at MARTIN'S in Hagerstown so this is a big plus for us, it is just fantastic," she said, while shopping in the fresh produce section. "Everything looks great, just look at the peppers and bananas. We're so happy to have this now. We can be here in a few minutes instead of having to travel to shop."
The Greencastle MARTIN'S employs 81 full- and part-time associates and features an expanded farm fresh produce department with more than 300 fresh items.
The store also has a full-service deli with a selection of grab-and-go meals, sandwiches, wraps, subs and salads made on site.
In addition to the meat and seafood department, shoppers will find a bakery that carries artisan breads, cakes, doughnuts and other favorites.
The Greencastle MARTIN'S operates 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week.
Mayor Ben Thomas expressed his gratitude to MARTIN'S executives for choosing Greencastle as one of their new locations.
"Thank you for joining a vibrant community and helping our economy," Thomas said. "You will find this is a very strong community to live, work, grow, raise a family and even retire."
Along with the Greencastle location, GIANT Food Stores opened four other MARTIN'S Food Markets on Friday — in Smithsburg, Maryland, Martinsburg, West Virginia, Hedgesville, West Virginia, and Berryville, Virginia.
Helping out
MARTIN’S believes in giving back to its communities for a better tomorrow. In that spirit, MARTIN’S celebrated the grand opening of its Greencastle store by presenting a $1,000 donation to each of the following organizations:
Greencastle-Antrim Food Pantry
Greencastle-Antrim School District
Greencastle Police Department
Rescue Hose Co.
In addition, during the month of April, each time a reusable Bags 4 My Cause bag is purchased at the Greencastle MARTIN'S, $1 will be donated to Greencastle-Antrim Food Pantry.
"We appreciate the support you give, which has allowed Greencastle-Antrim Food Pantry to maintain the work we do in our community," said food pantry representative MaryGrace Holcomb. "The MARTIN'S Bags 4 My Cause Program is a great way to continue to support our cause while working to eliminate single-use paper and plastic bags."
The Greencastle-Antrim Food Pantry is located at 57 W. Baltimore St. For more information call 717-597-8333 or email gafoodpantry@gmail.com.
GIANT will also ensure each new store is assigned a feeding agency partner to receive weekly food donations through the company's food rescue program, including its “Meat the Needs” initiative.