New grocery scheduled to open

link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Raintree Thriftway Supermarket Dairy Manager Eddie Marez of Clovis stocks the dairy section Monday afternoon. Store officials expect to open on Oct. 1.

Area residents should have a new option for buying groceries next week. Raintree Thriftway is scheduled to open Oct. 1 at Llano Estacado and Norris streets.

Owner Kyle Brewer, who also owns and operates S&S Supermarket at Hilltop Plaza — he said that store will remain open after Raintree Thriftway gets underway — said the new store will be different from other grocery stores because of the selection, customer service and friendly atmosphere.

“A locally owned grocery store that caters to the people of Clovis is my vision,” Brewer said. “If there’s something (a customer) wants that we don’t have, we’ll do our best to find it and get it for them. We listen to our customers.”

Raintree Thriftway will offer consumers organic produce and gluten-free items along with other grocery store staples like a deli, bakery, dairy section and a place for beer, wine and liquor, Brewer said.

“We’re going to offer what Albertson’s offers, but we’re going to be better at it,” Brewer said. “There’s no corporate entity telling us what we can sell.”

And Brewer plans to do all of that at “competitive prices.”

“We’re going to beat them on a lot of stuff,” he added.

And what does Albertson’s say about that?

Albertson’s Supervisor Steve Stockton said his store is in the process of expanding and will be offering 2,000 new items soon.

“We’re refreshing the deli department, bakery, produce and the market — all the fresh areas just to enhance what (Albertson’s) already offers,” Stockton said.

And yes, the rumors are true — Albertson’s is making room for a Starbucks café.

“We’re hoping within the next 60 days if we stay on schedule,” Stockton said.

Despite the improvements, though, Stockton noted that with any grand opening, people will flock to the new business out of curiosity.

“Any competitor that moves into town will affect the other ones,” he said. “For the grand opening, everyone wants to try it out and see what the new store in town looks like.”

Paradise Market Owner Bill Bargman said he welcomes the new competition on the north side of town.

“Competition is very good not only for the businesses involved but also for the public in general,” he said. “It raises everyone’s expectations and standards and it gives the customer a choice. It’s part of what made this country, right? I feel good about it.”

Lowe’s Store Manager David Figueroa doesn’t think it will affect his family based business, either.

“It’s a new thing, they (customers) will be curious, but I think at the end we’ll be OK,” Figueroa said.