New look, new attitude

SIKESTON -- Save-A-Lot has a new look and a new attitude, all to make their customers' shopping experience the best it can be.

"It's just a new and improved, clean and brightened-up experience," said Eddie Moore, store manager. He said the customer was in mind with all the renovations and changes recently made to the store.

"We've just totally remodeled the whole thing," he said. "It had been 17 years since anything this significant had been done."

"I feel like the public's perception of Save-A-Lot has been that of a crowded, box store," Moore said. "We wanted to really get away from that, and open and clean it up.

We needed a facelift," he continued.

And that is just what the store got with the renovations, which began in mid-

September and ended just in time for the grand re-opening earlier this month.

"We've expanded our frozen food, produce and meat departments," Moore said. "We've expanded our general merchandise aisle with hundreds of new items."

There are also new fixtures and wider aisles.

The produce department was moved to the front of the store; and variety was increased there, too.

The store also brought Paul Fout, who retired from the meat department a few years ago, out of retirement to work part time as a supervisor there.

And all the changes have paid off.

"The response was immediate," Moore said. "Sales have been tremendous -- it's been fantastic."

Every day, his cashiers receive "a constant flow of compliments," Moore said. "Our customers say it's fantastic -- they love it."

Pam Little, meat department manager, said she and others in the meat department also hear a lot of good comments.

"We recently had a record week in the meat department," Moore said.

"Our meat is cut to order," Little noted. The meat department also prepares meat trays and food baskets for all occasions, she said.

"We've got the best meat in town and I think we have as good of produce as any of our competitors," Moore said.

In other changes, store hours were extended an hour later each night, which Moore said has also helped customers.

Staff hours were also adjusted to have more cashiers there at peak shopping hours to better accommodate customers, Moore said.

"We are very proud of our new store and the product we sell -- name-brand quality at a generic price, satisfaction 100 percent guaranteed," Moore said.

Save-A-Lot is located at 601 South Main. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Managers at the store, some whom were recently appointed, pictured are: Cindy Bowers, produce manager, six years with company; Tara Graham, evening manager, four years with company; Paul Fout, meat department supervisor, 13 years with company; Vicky Sloan, evening manager, two years with company; Eddie Moore, store manager, six years with company; Kim Sears, assistant manager, 13 years with company; and Pam LIttle, meat department manager, seven years with the company. Not pictured is Evening Manager Kaneka Jenkins, who has been with the company for three years