GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — All three Price Choppers in the county have now been upgraded to Market 32s.

 

Regional and local employees cut the ribbon Friday morning on the final rebranded store, at 300 Stockbridge Road. The modern makeover of the 49,500 square-foot space will now provide the same shopping experience for all local customers.

 

It is the company's 51st rebrand into a Market 32 store.

 

"Throughout our stores in the Berkshires, we have introduced the Market 32 brand one store at a time. Pittsfield, Lenox, and we knew that this building was older and I think customers were probably a little disappointed that to go to Pittsfield and Lenox, you have the newest store that we offer, and this was sort of an older building," said Stephen Speelman, the grocer's zone director.

 

"It took a little work but we were able to finally bring this brand to the town of Great Barrington and now, we're consistent."

 

He said the Market 32 models appeal to the younger generation while not alienating the older generations. This location now has an expanded pharmacy, a beer and wine department, and an emphasis on organic food and produce.

 

"The biggest thing is, this is about the way we treat customers. We really want customers to feel that we really care about the fact that they shop here, that they chose us," Speelman said.

 

"This town has numerous great companies that they can go to so it's really got to be about us making sure the customers know we appreciate them and their business and you can't be everything for everybody but we're going to try our best."

 

The Great Barrington store employs more than 70 people, many who have worked there for a long time.  Employees cheered outside as members of American Legion Post 350 raised the flag and the national anthem was sung.

 

Store Manager Brittany Roche has been with the company for 19 years and cares for this team so much that she commutes for the job.

 

"I've been here at this store for six months. It is my second time being a store manager for the company. I love it. I actually drive here from Connecticut every day because I love the store so much and believe in it wholeheartedly," she explained.

 

"I came here back in the holidays and saw the team and I couldn't wait to come, so I basically begged."

 

She said the brand cares about a lot of things and one is being local.

 

"We have an expanded local section in there and it's a lot of really good offers and we love to be involved in the community so that's been really lovely. We really care about fresh foods and healthy lifestyle living so we have expanded produce, expanded organics, and a lot of different meat offers. Same with seafood, the food court. I mean, all the food in there is just delicious," she said.

 

"And then, of course, we care about service and being friendly to our customers, and that's really what we're all about, legendary service every single day, and I think that our shoppers will see that going forward."

 

The store remained open while repairs were done, with major construction occurring overnight. It now has open spaces, soft earth-tone décor, product-focused displays and murals, and improved lighting.

 

"I think it's pretty darn impressive how we took a pretty outdated building and turned it into a pretty modern-looking building," Speelman said.

 

"I think it puts us on par now with our competition and this is what we do as an organization. This is our future but it's also our now, Market 32, and I'm amazed knowing what this store looked like to what it looks like right now."

 

Customers will receive a 5 percent savings this Friday and Saturday (Sept. 13-14) off their grocery order. Price Chopper/Market 32 will also donate 5 percent of sales from the store on those days to Berkshire South Regional Community Center and Berkshire Hills Youth Soccer Club.

 

Based in Schenectady, N.Y., Price Chopper/Market 32 operates 130 Price Chopper and Market 32 supermarkets and one Market Bistro, employing 16,000 teammates in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

 

"We’re very excited to expand the Market 32 experience in Berkshire County," said Price Chopper/Market 32 President Blaine Bringhurst in a statement. "Today's shoppers are looking for an enhanced, contemporary shopping experience, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer it to them in the same, convenient location they’ve grown accustomed to."