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Kenbridge has a replacement for Shoppers Value. Residents remember the store at 501 Main Street, as it only shut down in March. The closure left Kenbridge without a full-size grocery store within town limits. 

Kenbridge Town Manager Tony Matthews said local officials and community members had a plan in the works to bring a new grocer to town within days of Shoppers Value shutting its doors. 

“We have been very fortunate that we did not have to wait very long before someone took the opportunity to open the grocery store back up in town,” Matthews told The K-V Dispatch. “It takes some time to get all of the paperwork done for the sales tax, EBT, and state and local taxes (before a new grocery store can open).” 

And that’s what they have now. A “soft” opening for the new store, called Community Market, will be held on Thursday, May 16. Matthews said a grand opening is slated to take place in June. For anyone wondering what’s the difference, a soft opening is like a trial run. It’s a limited period where the business opens up, allowing the store to test its operations, how employees handle customers and get feedback.

It also helps a company identify and resolve any issues or kinks before the place opens full-time. That’s where we’re at with Community Market. Thursday’s soft opening is an important step and residents are encouraged to come out and give their feedback. 

What is Community Market?

So you know the name now. What will the company carry? Community Market will be a full-size grocery store carrying products driven by supply and demand for the area. The soft opening will concentrate on fresh meats, fresh vegetables, and dairy products according to information provided to the Town of Kenbridge. 

As you get closer to the grand opening, additional brand-specific selections and non-perishables will be filtered in. Basically, Community Market management is working right now, officials say, to learn the needs of the area. What do people buy a lot of? What do they leave sitting on the shelves? Things will adjust based on the reactions of customers. 

“A local grocery store is very important to our community for several reasons. We need an affordable location to purchase the groceries our families need on a daily basis,” said Matthews. “Also, not every person is able to jump into a vehicle and drive out of town to shop. Things like timing, traffic and even weather make a great deal of difference to our citizens. Including the fact that some citizens don’t have transportation.” 

The 501 Main St. location has been the site of several grocery stores over the years. Prior to housing Shoppers Value the space was home to Farmers Foods. 

What happens next in Kenbridge? 

As we mentioned, the soft opening is this Thursday, May 16 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The exact date of the grand opening for Community Market is expected to be announced soon. 

Editor’s note: Nate Pentecost wrote this story for the Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch.