Published: July 19, 2008 02:43 am            

CITY OF LOCKPORT: Niagara Produce Lockport arrives

The doors to the eagerly awaited Niagara Produce Lockport are open for business.

The produce market, deli and grocer rolled into one held a soft opening Friday. It was flooded with people when the store opened at 8 a.m. at the corner of Chestnut and Washburn streets. People were coming in and out of the market all day as outside construction work continued on the building.

Parent company Niagara County Produce bought the building, the old Brewhaus Coffee & Cafe, at 112 Chestnut St. in Lockport, earlier in the year. Even though some of the outside construction and interior work of the store wasn’t finished just yet, the shelves, coolers and freezers were full. Fruit, vegetables, meats, dairy products, frozen, baked and dry goods awaited the customers.

But it wasn’t easy to hit the Friday opening date, as employees and construction workers did a lot in a short amount of time to have the place ready.

“It’s been amazing what we’ve got done in two or three days,” said Barb Peach of the parent company, Niagara County Produce. “It’s off to a good start.”

“We rushed to get done,” said Niagara County Produce treasurer Jody Chesko.

There are some details that are being worked on though, Chesko said. She said it was mainly decor work, such as an awning, that has to be done, as well as the placement of a fruit tree inside the store.

To prepare for the soft opening, employees from both produce locations were working. But on Friday Niagara Produce was getting hit so hard, Chesko said she had to pull people from the Niagara County Produce store on Transit Road and Millersport Highway for extra help around noon. Later in the afternoon, the workers got a bit of a breather.

“It’s beginning to slow down a little,” Chesko said, with the market still busy.

She said there were a few things that make Niagara Produce stand out from other markets and draw people in.

“I think it is the high quality and low prices, the freshness,” Chesko said. “We carry products from local farms, which I think people know. And now they can walk here.”

Chesko’s father, Richard Dorr, owns Niagara County Produce. The family had hoped for a July 1 opening, but conditions in the building took a little more time and money than expected. Work has been done on the flooring, foundation and roof. And there’s a parking lot on Chestnut and Washburn. There is a deli in the back of the store, as well.

Lockport residents were glad to see Niagara Produce open. Chesko said the location drew people who lived near by.

“You have no idea how delighted we are this place is open,” said Lockport resident Sue Struckmann.

Struckmann was shopping with her husband, the Rev. Otto Struckmann. The Struckmanns used to shop at the Niagara County Produce on Transit and Millersport for 35 years. But this market is closer for the Struckmanns, who took their time Friday going through the store.

Niagara Produce Lockport will be holding its official grand opening Aug. 1 with special promotions from vendors.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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