CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa (KTIV) -
You might not think of the supermarket as a big deal. But after losing their only grocery store to a fire more than three years ago, Correctionville, Iowa, residents had to learn to do without.
Normally, when you're in the grocery store, you probably don't like to wait. But after those years passed by without a local grocery store, these Correctionville, Iowa, residents were actually excited to wait for this moment.
During that time, Linda Zahnley has been traveling about 30 miles to get her groceries.
"It's just like an answer to prayer, we really do need this," said Zahnley. "I know a lot of people drive to Sioux City every day, but a lot of us don't."
Zahnley is one of many breathing a sigh of relief that those long treks will be a thing of the past.
"You really planned. You stocked up on stuff, you relied on neighbors. I don't know how many times I called and said, ‘Zo, do you have any oatmeal'," said Zahnley.
After the groundbreaking in April, the store came together quickly. The owners estimate hundreds of volunteers donated thousands of hours to create the new building.
"It's wonderful, it really is. Lot of hard work by a lot of good people," said Becky Bollmeyer.
Now, residents won't have to worry about running out of staples.
"As I've walked around the store, they've got all kinds of products there. Everything that I normally buy looks like it's here. I'm excited about it," said Keith Byers of Correctionville.
Customers agree one of the best features of the new 6,000 square foot facility is the produce section. It's about four times larger than the old one used to be.
"I missed out on the camaraderie, meeting people and seeing people and talking to people here in the grocery store. You just don't get that in the city," said Zahnley.
Now, she'll have the chance to get that, and her groceries, seven days a week.
The new grocery store created about a dozen new jobs in the community. After cutting the ribbon, the owners, Mark and Dawn McCrea, honored the old landowners, by making them their honorary first customers.
A fire burned down Correctionville's only grocery store in 2009. On Wednesday, they cut the ribbon on a new one.
