Hundreds were in attendance for the re-opening, including the Christiansburg High School Band. -Photos Courtesy of the town of Christiansburg
Kroger officially opened its $12 million expanded and remodeled store in Christiansburg today and launched online ordering.
Kroger has hired 100 new associates to staff the store, bringing employment to 240. The store is 82,000 square feet, almost twice its original size.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning, Kroger presented $1,000 checks to the Humane Society of Montgomery County, Montgomery County Christmas Store and Christiansburg High School. The first 100 customers received $10 Kroger gift cards. The Christiansburg High School Band played, and Mayor Mike Barber spoke.
The store has an array of new services, including Murray’ s Cheese Shoppe, Starbucks, Sushi Bar, and Kitchen Place. “It’s like a whole new store,” said Eric Williams, manager. “Every department has been expanded, and we have a huge variety of products.”
“The store has a bright, fresh look with new décor, lighting and flooring,” added Williams.
A drive-through window has been added to the pharmacy, which has been expanded and moved to the front of store for the convenience of shoppers.
“We have expanded meat/seafood, deli-bakery, natural/organic foods, dairy, prepared foods and wine sections as well as a new larger floral shop,” said Williams. “The bulk foods section allows customers to buy nuts, grains and candy by the pound. A Bistro with a pizza oven, burritos and bowls, made to order sandwiches and chef on the run selections has been added.”
Kroger’s online ordering service, ClickList, enables customers to order their groceries from a computer or mobile device and pick them up curbside the same day. For the Christiansburg store, payment is made online when the order is placed.
“The response to ClickList has been overwhelming,” said Jason Talerico, E-Commerce Field Specialist. “We have opened ClickList in 27 stores in Virginia and West Virginia in the past year. One of those is the S. Main Street store in Blacksburg.
“ClickList saves our customers time and adds to the convenience of shopping,” Talerico said. “Customers tell us their usual weekly shopping takes 90 minutes or more, and using ClickList reduces the time to 20 minutes.”
More than 40,000 items are available through ClickList. They include fresh meat and produce. Virginia regulations prohibit the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and pharmacy prescriptions. Hot foods also are excluded.
ClickList is divided into three steps:
• Customers place their order at www.kroger.com/ClickList and select a time to pick it up at the store the same day. Kroger requires four hours’ notice.
• A Kroger associate—called a “selector”—shops the store to fulfill the order. If an ordered item is not available, the selector will choose a substitute. If an item is not available in the size ordered, the selector will choose another size. Any changes will be wrapped separately, and the customer may decline the substituted item. If the item costs more than the customer’s selection, the customer will receive the lower price. The customer’s order is stored in a temperature controlled room. Coupons electronically linked to a customer’s Kroger Plus Card are automatically redeemed to reduce the cost of the order. Paper coupons will be deducted at the time of pick-up.
• Another Kroger associate—called an “attendant”—delivers the groceries to the customer at a designated parking space at the side of the store. The “attendant” loads the order into the customer’s car. The process takes approximately five minutes.
Initially, Kroger is waiving the $4.95 service charge for each customer’s first three orders. No minimum purchase is required.
The Christiansburg Kroger is open 24 hours every day and is located at 555 N. Franklin Street.
The Mid-Atlantic Division operates 121 stores, 118 pharmacies and 93 fuel centers in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Headquartered in Roanoke, the Mid-Atlantic Division is dedicated to making a difference in the communities it serves by supporting hunger relief, women’s health, our troops and their families, and local schools and grassroots organizations. Kroger is also a strong supporter of the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and organizations that promote the advancement of women and minorities. In 2016 Kroger’s charitable giving is $287 million. Fortune magazine named Kroger the “most generous company in America.” For more information, visit www.kroger.com.
