6 days ago
Stop & Shop Revamp: Celebrating new look and fighting hunger
WILLIMANTIC — Stop & Shop in Willimantic had much to celebrate as it held an official grand reopening of its newly remodeled location at 1391 Main Street.
The new remodel is part of the brand's multi-year commitment to refreshing stores across its footprint and improving the customer shopping experience.
Store Manager Sara Tegge has been the manager since mid-February, and the remodel started in March. It was recently completed.
'We revamped the entire store and integrated all of our natural and organic items into the aisles,' Tegge said. 'We opened up the produce to give a more open and comfortable shopping experience for the customers.'
Tegge said the feedback has been positive, and people are happy with the new, clean sleek look.
'It's a really nice, new addition to the community,' Tegge said. 'A customer stopped us and said thank you for giving our town something so nice.'
The remodel started March 10 and was completed by the celebration on Friday.
The newly-remodeled store in Willimantic includes expanded grab-and-go prepared foods, a remodeled produce department and a remodeled bakery department.
Over 800 new products are available across the store, including a multicultural assortment of popular Puerto Rican and Latin American favorites, Asian-centric products, seasonings, spices and flavors worldwide.
To add to the celebration, Stop & Shop presented Eastern Connecticut State University with a $10,000 check to fight food insecurity among students. The check will support 'Shawn's Cupboard' as part of its School Food Pantry Program. Established in 2019, the program aims to help limit barriers that impact students' ability to succeed in the classroom and ensure consistent access to food.
'This store looks amazing and I can say, I'm a Stop & Shop shopper myself,' Eastern President Karim Ismaili said. 'I'm grateful on behalf of the University for the support you are providing for our students by making this donation.'
Ismaili said food insecurity is an issue for their students and families, so every dollar will go towards the nutritious food and personal care items they need.
Dean of Students Dr. Kemesha Wilmot said the $10,000 check will go far, and she finds it difficult to hear about students' food insecurity issues.
'We do have students on campus who come there, and they're trying to get their education, and because they are unable to access food, it interferes with their academics,' Wilmot said. 'I work with students on a day-to-day basis, and they come to my office and they're saying, I don't have a meal, not even on campus, but even at home.'
Wilmot said food insecurity is an issue in the community.
'I really appreciate Stop & Shop for really stepping in and being that gap to support our students,' Wilmot said. 'When a student comes into my office, hunger is not one of the things that I want to hear that is stopping them from pursuing their education.'
The program currently serves over 260 schools across the Northeast and is known as one of the nation's largest school food pantry programs.
This is the fourth year that Stop & Shop has partnered with Eastern, and this donation will provide the school with over $30,000 in total to ensure that students have access to healthy foods. It will also enable the school to provide fresh produce, proteins, and personal care items to meet the rising needs of students.
Stop & Shop in Willimantic is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
