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Three event highlights
1. The Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to introduce the new Market Basket location at U.S. 171 and La. 28 on the North edge of Leesville near the new roundabout. The new $9 million store is one of 30 Market Basket stores, half of which are in Louisiana. The company is headquartered in Texas. The store is 41,000 square feet, four times as large as the previous store.
2. Among those in attendance Wednesday were Senator John Smith (R-Leesville); Leesville Mayor Robert Rose; Market Basket founder and Chairman of the Board Bruce Thompson and wife; Sky Thompson, chief operating officer of Market Basket; Market Basket partner Caira Franz; Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce President Ranelle Birmingham; Leesville Store Manager and Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce Board member, Charlie Draughn; Market Basket employees; and other local business leaders and shoppers.
3. Shoppers and local officials had an opportunity to see some of the new departments in the store, including a bakery, deli, floral shop, smokehouse and a "dollar section." Market Basket employees had welcomed the public to the store's 6 a.m. opening Wednesday with cake and refreshments. A steady stream of customers came through the doors until at least late afternoon, according to Draughn. Many shoppers expressed their appreciation of the store's location, which is more easily accessed for those living in the northern and eastern parts of the parish.
Overheard during the event
"I can't think of a better way to celebrate (our 50th anniversary) than with a grand opening." -Sky Thompson, Market Basket COO
"We're going to have double the jobs, and a lot of our subcontractors were from the area, keeping everything local." -Thompson
"We look forward to many, many years of success." -Robert Rose, Mayor of Leesville
Three event highlights
1. The Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to introduce the new Market Basket location at U.S. 171 and La. 28 on the North edge of Leesville near the new roundabout. The new $9 million store is one of 30 Market Basket stores, half of which are in Louisiana. The company is headquartered in Texas. The store is 41,000 square feet, four times as large as the previous store.
2. Among those in attendance Wednesday were Senator John Smith (R-Leesville); Leesville Mayor Robert Rose; Market Basket founder and Chairman of the Board Bruce Thompson and wife; Sky Thompson, chief operating officer of Market Basket; Market Basket partner Caira Franz; Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce President Ranelle Birmingham; Leesville Store Manager and Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce Board member, Charlie Draughn; Market Basket employees; and other local business leaders and shoppers.
3. Shoppers and local officials had an opportunity to see some of the new departments in the store, including a bakery, deli, floral shop, smokehouse and a "dollar section." Market Basket employees had welcomed the public to the store's 6 a.m. opening Wednesday with cake and refreshments. A steady stream of customers came through the doors until at least late afternoon, according to Draughn. Many shoppers expressed their appreciation of the store's location, which is more easily accessed for those living in the northern and eastern parts of the parish.
Overheard during the event
"I can't think of a better way to celebrate (our 50th anniversary) than with a grand opening." -Sky Thompson, Market Basket COO
"We're going to have double the jobs, and a lot of our subcontractors were from the area, keeping everything local." -Thompson
"We look forward to many, many years of success." -Robert Rose, Mayor of Leesville
