New Du Quoin grocery comes alive

"Exciting" doesn't begin to describe the atmosphere all around the new Bottom Dollar Cost Plus grocery in the Southtowne Shopping Center.

Forty employees have already been hired. Approximately $600,000 in groceries are being stocked onto the shelves.

150 new shopping carts fill the aisle in front of the dairy section.

Seven full-time meat cutters are overseeing work to clean and renovate the fresh meat department (the store will slice, grind and package its own brand of Angus ground beef).

More than 100 feet of family pack national brands under the Costco banner are in place. Refrigerated racks and freezers for lunch meat and frozen meat--many features at 6 for $26--are in place.

Personnel are monitoring refrigeration equipment on an hourly basis throughout the store and in the Beer Cave to make sure EVERYTHING is cooling properly.

Special sections for things like gluten free foods were being stocked.

Outside, Mathis & Sons Crane Service was hanging the huge frame from the new sign that can be seen all along Rt. 51 in front of the shopping center. Nearby, repairs were being made to the parking lot.

Owner Tom Schmutz is hoping for an opening the third or fourth week of June.

The newspaper's staff--editorial and advertising--are working very closely with the store as it prepares to open.