Well over 100 people gathered in the parking lot outside City Market’s south Montrose store Wednesday morning as the company celebrated the completion of an $18.5 million expansion.
Customers stood alongside store employees as City Market handed out door prizes, recognized workers and cut the ribbon on a project that added 20,000 square feet and significantly expanded nearly every fresh-food department.
The remodeled store at 16400 S. Townsend Ave. now encompasses approximately 83,000 square feet, making it the largest City Market location in Colorado, spokesperson Jessica Trowbridge said.
Its expanded footprint includes larger produce, meat, deli and cheese departments, an improved Starbucks coffee shop and more room throughout the sales floor. The store also offers Murray’s Cheese, fresh sushi and a full-service pharmacy with a drive-thru.
“When customers come in, the noticeable changes are the size of produce, the overall size of the store and just how much room there is,” store leader Cliff Anderson said. “All our fresh departments got ginormous.”
Trowbridge said the company placed particular emphasis on produce because fresh food remains a priority for its customers.
“They expanded the produce department right when you walk in,” Trowbridge said. “You have lots more options, and it’s a much more welcoming environment for our customers at the first point.”
The store remained open throughout the project, requiring employees and customers to navigate construction and frequently changing aisle locations. Trowbridge said the work lasted longer than City Market initially anticipated.
Anderson said the first emotion among employees now that the renovation is finished is relief.
“They’re excited that it’s over,” he said. “But they are super stoked. They’re super happy to be back in their departments, helping the customers and helping the community.”
Trowbridge credited customers for remaining patient as the project altered the normal shopping experience.
“The project lasted longer than we anticipated, and the store team is so excited that it’s done and they can focus on what they do every day instead of worrying about the remodel. But through it all, our customers were great. We moved the aisles multiple times. Our customers were awesome. The associates maintained focus on the community.”
Investing in a growing community
The project expanded the approximately 63,000-square-foot store to 83,000 square feet. Trowbridge said the company saw an opportunity to enlarge the building when space occupied by an adjacent car wash became available.
She said the investment was driven by the growth City Market has seen in Montrose and a desire to improve the experience for both customers and employees.
“The community is growing,” Trowbridge said. “We want to make sure we’re providing a great experience for our associates and our customers. When the car wash was here, we saw an opportunity to expand, so we jumped on it.”
Anderson likewise attributed the investment to “the growth of the community and the support of the community.”
City Market President Chris Albi said in a statement that the remodeled store will offer Montrose customers a larger selection, greater convenience and improved access to fresh and affordable food.
“We’re proud to continue serving Montrose in a modern space that reflects and connects with the local neighborhood,” Albi said. “This remodel marks an exciting next chapter in our continued commitment to the region, and we’re grateful to our associates for helping bring it to life.”
Montrose Mayor Michael Badagliacco, who attended Wednesday’s ceremony and toured the store, called the expansion “absolutely amazing.”
“An $18 million investment is pretty significant,” Badagliacco said. “I think it’s fantastic. The draw that happens when you have a significant expansion like what we have here is pretty incredible.”
The mayor was also struck by the size of the crowd gathered for the reopening.
“If we had that kind of turnout that we have out here at the City Council meetings all the time, it’d be something, wouldn’t it?” Badagliacco joked.
Anderson said the response exceeded his expectations. He had been told the night before that grand reopenings did not typically attract especially large crowds.
“I was overwhelmed by the amount of customers that did show,” Anderson said. “I didn’t expect the line around the corner.
Before the ceremony began, he went through the crowd shaking hands with customers and City Market staff. The celebration also included giveaways and a gift-card raffle, with at least one winner responding with a scream of excitement.
“What a fun community,” Trowbridge said.
Honoring employees and supporting nonprofits
Wednesday’s ceremony included remarks from Badagliacco, City Market executives and Anderson.
The company also presented $5,000 donations to both The Shepherd’s Hand and The Grace Center as part of City Market’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative.
The ribbon-cutting was led by David Wince, the store’s longest-serving employee. Wince was recognized for 42 years with the company, including his work training and mentoring other employees and building relationships throughout the store.
The remodeled location employs more than 175 people and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
City Market, which is owned by The Kroger Co., is also completing 16 additional store remodels as part of a bigger investment in its Colorado locations.
For Anderson, Wednesday was an opportunity for the Montrose employees to move beyond construction and return their full attention to customers.
The store may be larger and offer more choices, he said, but its familiar approach to service remains.
“More options is what people will see, and more space,” Anderson said. “And friendly as always.”
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
